IR 


L  I  E>  R.AFLY 

OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


977.331 
R592r 


WitBK  HISTORICAL  SURV'7 


i- 1  n  r  /  r 
.<riv[K.imr  u « foui 


ROCKFORD  TO-DAY  """ 


Historical,  Descriptive,  Biographical 

ILLUSTRATED 


PUBLISHED    BY 


THE  ROCKFORD  MORNING  STAR 


ROCKFORD,    ILLINOIS 

THE    CLARK  COMPANY  PRESS 
1903 


r  / 


FOREWORD 


And  he  gniie  it  for  MM  opinion 
that  whoever  could  make  two  eiirg 
of  corn  or  two  blades  of  grass  to 
grow  upon  a  spot  of  ground  where 
only  one  grew  before,  would  de- 
serve better  of  mimklitd.'' 

DEAN  SWIFT. 


IN  the  making  of  a  volume  which  would 
convey  accurate  biographies  and  faith- 
ful likenesses  of  those  who  have  con- 
tributed   their    genius    and    energy    toward 
Rockford's   great   progress,  the   publishers 
acknowledge     the     co-operation    of    many 
citizens,  reference  to  Church's    History   of 
Rockford,  work    of  review  and  compilation 
^  by  W.  W.  Austin. 


o 


I  043 1 69 


ROCKFORD  TODAY 


S~\  ERMANICUS  KENT  is  entitled  to  the 
VJ  distinction  of  being  the  founder  of  this, 
today,  beautiful  '•  Forest  City,"  of  the  west. 
Mr  Kent  was  born  in  Suffield,  Connecticut,  May 
31,  1790,  and  inherited  those  sterling  qualities 
which  were  characteristic  of  the  early  English 
settlers  in  the  ••  New  World."  He  acquired  a 
practical  business  education  and  for  some  years 
was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  at  Blacks- 
burg,  Virginia,  and  at  Huntsville,  Alabama.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Arabella  Amiss,  at  Blacks- 
burg,  Virginia,  June  7,  1827.  The  business 
interests  of  Mr.  Kent  being  in  the  south  and  hav- 
ing married  a  southern  woman,  he  doubtless 
acquiesced  in  the  social  institutions  of  that  sec- 
tion, as  it  is  known  that  he  owned  slaves  and 
brought  one  with  him  to  his  western  home.  A 
brother.  Rev.  Aratus  Kent,  was  located  as  a 
missionary  at  Galena,  Illinois,  a  mining  town  of 
considerable  note  at  that  time,  and  Mr.  Kent 
made  it  his  objective  point  in  seeking  a  new  loca- 
tion, where  he  hoped  to  better  his  financial  in- 
terests. 

Upon  arriving  in  Galena,  he  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Thatcher  Blake,  who  was  also  in 
quest  of  a  desirable  location.  Mr.  Blake  was 
born  in  Oxford  County,  Maine,  March  16,  1809, 
where  he  resided  until  1834,  when  he  went  as 
far  west  as  St.  Louis.  There  he  learned  of  the 
thriving  mining  town  of  Galena,  and  immedi- 
ately made  his  way  there.  As  soon  as  definite 


plans  could  be  matured,  Mr.  Kent  and  Mr.  Blake 
joined  interests  and  started  out  across  the  vir- 
gin prairies  and  through  the  unbroken  forests  of 
Illinois  in  quest  of  a  favorable  spot  where  they 
might  make  a  home  and  acquire  a  fortune. 
After  a  thorough  inspection  of  the  Pecatonica 
and  Rock  River  valleys  th°.y  finally  determined 
to  locate  upon  the  banks  of  Rock  River,  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Rockford. 

It  was  on  a  quiet  Sunday  afternoon  in  the 
month  of  August  ari  on  the  24th  day  of  the 
month,  that  these  pioneers  arrived  at  their  desti- 
nation. In  the  party  were  Messrs.  Kent.  Blake, 
Evans,  and  another  man  whose  n?  ie  is  unknown, 
Mr.  Kent  gave  employment  and  wages  to  those 
who  came  withhim  and  immediately  commenced 
the  building  of  a  log  cabin,  which  was  located  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river,  near  Kent's  creek 
and  on  the  Kent  claim.  Another  log  cabin  was 
built  on  a  claim  located  by  Mr.  Blake. 

As  the  season  for  agricultural  work  had  passed 
when  they  arrived,  their  attention  was  given  to 
making  improvements.  During  the  fall  of  that 
year,  Mr.  Kent  built  a  second  and  more  preten- 
tious home,  into  which  he  brought  his  family 
from  Galena,  in  May,  1835. 

Mr.  Kent  secured  workmen  from  Galena  and 
with  their  aid  constructed  a  dam  in  Kent's  creek 
and  a  saw  mill  upon  its  banks.  The  timber  for 
the  mill  was  cut  near  by  and  the  material  for  the 
dam  was  found  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  He 


IO 


ROCKFORD 


also  carried  on  a  merchandising  business  and 
supplied  his  neighbors  with  goods  on  credit.  The 
following  January  the  dam  was  swept  away  by 
the  ice  and  high  water.  In  the  early  spring, 
work  was  begun  on  the  digging  of  a  race  and  the 
construction  of  a  new  dam.  The  task  was  com- 
pleted in  July.  This  dam  occasioned  the  over- 


Irby  Black,  in  Blacksburg.  in  March,  1862.  Mr. 
Blake  cultivated  his  farm  until  1 85 1 ,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  city  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business,  and  in  this  connection  handled  large 
areas  of  timber  land  in  Wisconsin.  He  died  Oc- 
tober 8,  1880.  Mrs.  Blake  died  at  the  home  of 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Clarence  Bean,  in  this  city. 


MEMORIAL  HALL 


flow  of  so  much  land,  that  it  was  removed  sev- 
eral years  later.  Mr.  Kent  had  invested  his 
money  in  labor,  improvements,  and  merchan- 
dise, but,  as  yet,  had  been  able  to  get  but  little 
in  return,  so  that  the  financial  crash  of  1837 
left'  him  in  distress  and  without  prospects  of 
future  success.  He  surrendered  his  property 
for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  and  in  1844 
returned,  with  his  family,  to  Virginia,  where, 
after  engaging  in  business  at  various  places,  he 
died,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary 


Could  Germanicus  Kent  look  out  today  upon 
the  spot  where  his  early  struggles  returned  noth- 
ing but  bitter  disappointment,  he  would  see  a 
picture,  the  beauty  of  which  would  richly  repay 
him  for  all  the  sorrow  and  sadness  occasioned  by 
his  failure,  and  his  soul  would  rest  in  peace. 

His  name  will  be  honored  and  his  memory 
perpetuated,  by  the  successive  generations  that 
follow,  so  long  as  water  shall  flow  in  Kent's 
creek  and  the  masonry  endure  in  the  Kent 
school. 


ROCKFORD 


ii 


W1NNEBAGO  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE 


FIRST  SETTLER   ON  THE   EAST   SIDE. 

On  April  9,  1835,  Daniel  Shaw  Haight,  ac- 
companied by  several  other  men,  arrived  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  river,  in  quest  of  a  desirable 
location  for  settlement  This  locality  is  now 
called  East  Rockford. 

Mr.  Haight  was  from  Bolton,  Warren  County, 
New  York,  and  had  made  a  claim  near  Geneva, 
in  Kane  County,  Illinois.  He  sold  this  claim 


before  selecting  one  on  Rock  River.  His  first 
house  stood  on  the  northeast  comer  of  State 
and  Madison  streets.  He  brought  his  wife  and 
one  child,  Miss  Carey,  his  wife's  sister,  and  a 
hired  man  from  Geneva  to  his  new  home,  in 
May.  Thus  Mrs.  Mary  Haight  and  her  sister, 
Miss  Carey,  were  the  first  white  women  to  settle 
in  Winnebago  County.  Mrs.  Kent  arriving  a 
few  weeks  later,  on  the  West  Side. 

As  one  drives  over  the  smoothly  paved  streets, 


12 


ROCKFORD 


traverses  the  concrete  walks,  rides  through  the 
principal  streets  in  a  car,  propelled  by  an  electric 
current,  over  ribs  of  steel,  places  a  little  instru- 
ment to  his  ear  and  talks  with  friends  near  or 
remote  as  though  they  were  sitting  side  by  side, 
looks  at  the  fine  business  blocks  and  imposing 
public  buildings,  the  beautiful  residences,  and 
public  parks,  listens  to  the  constant  throb  and 
beat  of  the  machinery  in  hundreds  of  manufac- 
turing concerns,  mingles  in  the  throngs  of 
thousands  of  happy,  prosperous  people  in  the 
business  streets,  rides  in  a  horseless  carriage, 
reads  the  news  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  fresh 
from  the  daily  presses  of  the  city,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  realize,  that,  less  than  three  score  and 
ten  years  ago  this  part  of  Illinois  was  but  a 
trackless  wilderness  of  grass,  flowers,  and  forest 
trees,  where  the  birds  awoke  the  morning  with 
their  sweet  melodies  and  the  native  wild  ani- 
mals roamed  at  will. 

The  beautiful  homes  and  luxuries  of  living 
enjoyed  by  the  people  of  Rockford  today  are 
only  the  legitimate  sequences  of  the  deprivations 
and  indomitable  energies  of  the  pioneers. 

GROWTH  OF  THE  FOREST  CITY 
IN    1835. 

The  first  public  religious  service  in  Rockford 
was  held  at  the  home  of  Germanicus  Kent,  in 
June,  1835,  by  the  Rev.  Aratus  Kent,  at  which 
the  entire  community  was  present,  making  an 
audience  of  ten  people. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1 834,  not  yet  referred 
to,  may  be  mentioned  Thatcher  Blake,  Albert 
Sanford  and  Mr.  Van  Zant.  In  1835  several 
people  from  the  south  and  east  were  added  to 
the  colony.  Among  them  were  John  Wood, 
James  B.  Martyn  and  James  Boswell.  Closely 
following  these  were  Eliphalet  Gregory,  who  died 
in  1876,  Samuel  Gregory,  who  died  in  New  York 
in  1886,  and.Ephriam  Wyman,  after  whom  a 
street  is  named,  and  who  died  in  1893. 

Levi  Moulthrop,  M.  D.,who  has  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  Win- 
nebago  County,  arrived  in  1835.  He  married 
Miss  Margaret  George,  June  30,  1840  and  died 
September  12,  of  the  same  year. 

Richard  Montague  came  in  1835  and  died 
in  1878  He  has  memorials  in  the  name  of 


one  of  the  city  schools  and  streets.  Adam  Keith, 
after  whom  Keith's  creek  is  named,  arrived  dur- 
ing this  year.  He  died  in  Nebraska  in  1883. 

William  E.  Dunbar  was  one  of  the  county 
organizers  and  served  as  county  recorder  from 
1839  to  1843.  He  died  in  1847. 

P  P.  Churchill  was  a  farmer,  near  town. 
He  died  in  1889. 

Among  the  arrivals  of  1835  may  be  men- 
tioned, also,  the  names  John  Vance,  John 
Caton,  Joseph  Jolly,  Charles  Hall,  Lewis  Haskins, 
Milton  Kilburn,  William  Smith,  Luke  Joslin, 
Israel  Morrill,  D.  A.  Spaulding,  Lova  Corey, 
Alonson  Corey,  Abel  Campbell,  Ezra  Barnum, 
Anson  Barnum,  James  Taylor,  William  Hollen- 
beck,  V.  Carter,  Joseph  F.  Sanford,  Jonathan 
Corey,  Daniel  Beers,  Mason  Tuttle,  Mr.  Noble, 
Squire  Garner,  Gaylor,  Perry,  Norton,  Phineas 
Carey,  Jefferson  Garner,  Nathan  Bond,  Charles 
J.  Fox  and  James  Broadie.  Thus  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  population  of  Rockford  was  considerably 
increased  during  the  second  year  of  its  history. 

ACQUISITIONS  OF   1836. 

During  the  year  1836.  the  colony  was  en- 
larged by  the  arrival  of  a  number  of  pioneers, 
who  became  important  factors  in  the  material 
welfare  of  the  new  town.  Among  them  was 
Thomas  Lake,  who  came  from  the  county  of 
Somerset,  England,  and  landed  in  New  York  in 
1832,  after  a  voyage  of  fifty-two  days.  He 
arrived  in  Chicago  in  October  1835,  and  came 
to  Rockford  the  following  spring,  bringing  with 
him  an  old  acquaintance,  Sidney  Twogood.  Mr. 
Lake  made  a  claim  to  a  farm  and  the  two  men 
worked  at  the  carpenter  trade.  Mr.  Lake  died 
in  Guilford  in  1886. 

Herman  B.  Potter,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
arrived  in  October  and  bought  a  farm,  as  was 
the  practice  of  many  of  the  early  settlers,  on 
what  is  now  the  Kishwaukee  road.  Later  he 
moved  to  town  and  built  a  house  where  the  First 
Congregational  church  now  stands.  Mr.  Potter 
served  as  a  member  of  the  county  commission- 
ers' court,  and  was  one  of  Rockford's  prominent 
citizens.  He  died  in  Galesburg,  Illinois,  in  1880. 

Selden  M.  Church  was  born  in  East  Had- 
dam,  Connecticut,  March  4,  1804,  and  came  to 
Chicago  by  team,  in  1835,  and  arrived  in  Rock- 


ROCKFORD 


Y.  M.  C.  A.   BUILDING 


ROCKFORD 


ford  in  the  fall  of  1836.  Mr.  Church  imme- 
diately became  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
helpful  of  Rockford's  citizens.  He  contributed 
largely  to  the  business  interests  of  the  town.  He 
served  as  postmaster,  county  clerk  and  county 
judge,  retaining  the  latter  office  for  a  term  of 
eight  years.  In  1847  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
State  Constitutional  Convention.  He  was  a 


setts  to  Rockford  in  the  fall  of  1836.  They 
established  a  home  en  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Horsman  block,  where  they  were  joined,  a  little 
later,  by  their  daughter,  who  had  contracted  a 
romantic  marriage  with  Charles  1.  Horsman, 
while  attending  school  at  the  Charleston  Semi- 
nary. Mr.  and  Mrs  Horsman  retained  posses- 
sion of  this  property  the  remainder  of  their  days. 


NELSON    HOTEL 


member  of  the  legislature  in  1862,  a  member 
of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  in  1868,  and  a 
government  commissioner  to  locate  a  bridge  at 
Rock  Island.  After  a  residence  in  Rockford  of 
fifty-six  years,  accomplishing  much  for  the  best 
interests  of  those  who  inherit  the  fruits  of  his 
labor,  Judge  Church  passed  away  in  1892.- 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abiram  Morgan  were  of  New 
England  extraction  and  came  from  Massachu- 


Sampson  George  arrived  in  Rockford  from 
England  in  September  and  acquired  a  large  tract 
of  land,  but  lived  only  five  weeks  to  enjoy  the 
country  of  his  adoption.  He  died  in  his  new 
home  and  his  remains  now  rest  in  the  west  side 
cemetery. 

Dr.  Charles  Henry  Richings  was  born  in  Eng- 
land, February  26,  1815,  and  received  his  medi- 
cal education  in  Belgium.  He  was  the  second 


ROCKFORD 


WM.   BROWN    BUILDING 


i6 


ROCKFORD 


physician  to  locate  in  Rockford.  where  he  en- 
joyed a  large  practice.  He  died  August  13, 
1884,  but  his  memory,  as  a  citizen  and  a  physi- 
cian, is  perpetuated  in  the  name  and  practice  of 
his  son,  Dr.  Henry  Richings,  who  is  now  a  well 
known  resident  physician. 

Hiram  R.  Enoch  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
while  a  resident  of  Rockford  was  elected  to  the 


Joseph  Posson  came  from  New  York  and 
lived  on  a  farm  east  of  town  for  four  years.  He 
removed  to  Rockford  in  1842  where  he  died  of 
injuries  received  while  building  a  cooper  shop 
on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Madison  streets, 
the  same  year.  His  son,  H.  A.  Posson,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  living  residents  of  Rockford  town- 
ship. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JOHN   LAKE 


office  of  county  treasurer,  which  he  held  eight 
years.  He  was  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Rockford  Journal  and  one  of  the  influential 
citizens.  He  died  in  the  government's  employ 
in  Washington,  D.  C. 

Isaac  Newton  Cunningham,  who  arrived  in 
Rockford  during  this  year  was  the  second  sheriff 
of  the  county.  He  died  here  December  24, 
1865. 


David  S.  Shumway  was  a  native  of  Vermont. 
He  settled  on  a  farm  in  New  Milford,  where  he 
reared  a  large  family.  His  son,  Roland  H. 
Shumway.  Sr.,  is  the  well  known  seedsman,  who 
has  acquired  a  fortune  in  this  business. 

The  names  of  many  of  the  early  settlers  are 
made  familiar  to  the  present  generation  by  their 
being  given  to  our  public  buildings  and  streets, 


ROCKFORD 


which  affords  a  practical  lesson  in  the  history 
of  the  city. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY— 1836 

A  history  of  the  City  of  Rockford  would  not 
be  complete  without  reference  being  made  to 
the  organization  of  the  County  of  V/innebago  and 
the  location  of  the  county  seat,  as  much  of  the 
importance  of  the  city  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it 
has  the  honor  of  containing  this  location. 


tion  of  McHenry,  Winnebago,  Kane,  Ogle  and 
Whiteside  counties,  and  the  reorganization  of  Jo 
Daviess  county.  This  act  determined  the 
specific  geographical  boundaries  of  the  several 
counties.  Those  for  Winnebago  County  em- 
braced a  much  larger  territory  than  it  at  present 
contains,  as  all  of  Boone  County  and  the  two 
eastern  ranges  of  townships  in  Stephenson  were 
included.  Thus  Winnebago  County  was  carved 
out  of  LaSalle  and  Jo  Daviess  counties,  that 


ROCKFORD  COUNTRY  CLUB 


Whenever  a  new  settlement  was  made  in  the 
new  territory,  local  government  was  essential  to 
the  permanency  and  success  of  the  colony.  The 
attention  of  the  state  legislature,  which  was  in 
session  at  Vandalia,  was  called  to  this  matter  in 
1835.  At  this  time,  Cook,  LaSalle  and  Jo 
Daviess  counties  extended  from  Lake  Michigan 
to  the  Mississippi  river.  Out  of  this  vast  terri- 
tory, eight  counties  have  been  formed. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1836,  the  state  legis- 
lature approved  an  act  providing  for  the  organiza- 


portion  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian  being 
taken  from  LaSalle  and  that  west  of  this  meri- 
dian from  Jo  Daviess.  The  northern  and  south- 
ern boundaries  of  Winnebago  County  remain  as 
at  first  outlined  This  act  of  the  legislature  also 
directed  that  an  election  should  be  held  at  the 
house  of  Germanicus  Kent  on  the  first  Monday 
in  May  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  sheriff,  coro- 
ner, recorder,  surveyor  and  three  county  com- 
missioners, who  should  hold  their  offices  until  the 
next  succeeding  general  election  and  until  their 


i8 


ROCKFORD 


successors  were  qualified.  This  election  was  not 
held  in  May  as  directed,  however,  as  the  law 
provided  that  no  county  should  be  organized  until 
a  majority  of  the  voters  of  the  prospective  county 
had  addressed  a  petition  for  the  same  to  the 
judge  of  the  sixth  judicial  circuit,  or,  in  his 
absence,  to  another  circuit  judge,  and  to  give 
satisfactory  proof  that  the  proposed  county  con- 
tained not  less  than  350  white  inhabitants.  A 
census  was  taken  by  Dr.  Daniel  H.  Whitney,  of 
Belvidere,  which  resulted  in  demonstrating  that 
the  required  number  of  white  inhabitants  had 
been  found. 

A  petition  was  at  once  forwarded  to  Judge 
Thomas  H.  Ford,  who  issued  an  order,  dated 
July  15,  1836,  for  an  election  to  be  held  at  the 
house  of  .Daniel  S  Haight  on  the  first  Monday 
in  August,  for  the  aforesaid  county  officers.  The 
legislature  designated  the  time  and  place  for 
holding  this  election,  but  as  the  organization  of 
the  county  depended  upon  a  prescribed  number 
of  inhabitants,  another  section  of  the  law,  referred 
the  selection  of  the  time  and  place  to  the  judge 
of  the  circuit.  Germanicus  Kent,  Joseph  P. 
Griggs  ar,d  Robert  J.  Cross  were  chosen  judges 
of  this  election.  A  deep  interest  was  manifested 
in  this,  the  first  election  in  the  county.  A  mem- 
ber of  congress  and  two  representatives  to  the 
state  legislature  were  to  be  chosen,  as  well  as 
the  local  officers,  but  the  selection  of  candidates 
for  county  commissioners  overshadowed  all  other 
interests  at  issue. 

This  election  marked  the  beginning  of  rivalry 
between  the  east  and  west  side  of  the  river  which 
has  mver  been  entirely  eliminated.  No  caucus 
or  convention  was  called,  and  the  factions  divided 
the  honors.  Simon  P.  Doty  was  the  candidate 
for  commissioner  from  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county,  Thomas  B.  Talcott  from  the  northern 
part  and  William  E  Dunbar  the  compromise 
choice  of  the  two  "sides."  The  election  was 
held  on  the  first  Monday  in  August  as  directed. 
No  printed  ballots  were  used,  but  a  viva  vocewas 
taken  and  this  made  it  easy  for  those  interested 
to  know  exactly  how  matters  stood  at  any  time 
during  the  election.  D.  A.  Spaulding  was  made 
clerk  of  the  election.  One  hundred  and  twenty 
votes  were  cast,  and  Simon  P.  Doty,  Thomas  B. 
Talcott  and  William  E.  Dunbar  were  elected 


county  commissioners;  Daniel  S.  Haight.  sheriff; 
Daniel  H.  Whitney,  recorder;  Eliphalet  Gregory, 
coroner;  and  D.  A.  Spaulding.  surveyor.  At 
this  time  there  were  only  three  congressional 
districts  in  the  state  and  Winnebago  was  in  the 
third  district,  which  extended  from  the  Wiscon- 
sin boundary  to  a  line  south  of  Springfield  and 
entirely  across  the  state  from  east  to  west. 

The  northern  half  of  the  state  was  sparsely 
settled,  the  entire  tract  constituting  the  congres- 
sional district.  At  this  first  election  William  L. 
May,  who  resided  at  Springfield,  and  was  the 
democratic  candidate  for  congress  received  sev- 
enty-three votes.  His  opponent.  John  T.  Stewart, 
received  forty-four  votes,  thus  giving  Mr.  May  a 
majority  of  twenty-nine  votes  and  he  was  declared 
elected.  He  served  two  years. 

The  senatorial  district  in  which  Winnebago 
County  was  included,  previous  to  1840,  covered 
the  Rock  River  Valley  and  extended  from  Dubu- 
que  nearly  to  St.  Louis  This  vast  area  was 
entitled  to  one  senator  and  two  representatives 
in  the  legislature  At  this  election  there  were 
five  candidates  for  the  lower  house.  James 
Craig  and  Elijah  Charhs  were  elected. 

Monday.  August  1st,  1836.  marked  the  be- 
ginning of  the  political  history  of  Winnebago 
County,  the  election  held  on  that  day  complet- 
ing the  organization  of  a  county  destined  to  be- 
come one  of  the  foremost  in  the  state. 

LOCATION  OFTHECOUNTYSEAT— 1836 

The  act  of  the  legislature  providing  for  the 
organization  of  Winnebago  County  also  made 
provision  for  the  location  of  the  county  seat  by 
designating  Robert  Stephens  and  Rezin  Zarley 
of  Cook  County,  and  John  Phelps  as  commis- 
sioners to  act  in  this  capacity,  The  commis- 
sioners were  authorized  to  meet  on  the  first 
Monday  in  May,  1836,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as 
may  be,  at  the  house  of  Daniel  S.  Haight  for 
this  purpose.  John  Phelps  never  made  an  ap- 
pearance, but  the  other  two  commissioners  met 
at  the  place  designated  on  the  14th  of  July,  of 
that  year,  and  after  spending  two  days  in  the  con- 
sideration of  the  matter,  agreed  upon  a  location. 

This  selection  was  embodied  in  a  report 
made  by  the  special  commissioners'  to  the  county 
commissioners  court  on  August  4.  1836.  This 


ROCKFORD 


report  set  forth  that  they  had  met  as  directed 
and  had  selected  a  site ,  on  lands  owned  by  N icho- 
las  Boilvin  &  Co.,  on  condition  that  the  pro- 
prietors should  execute  a  warranty  deed  to  the 
county  of  thirty  acres  of  land  so  long  as  it  should 
remain  the  seat  of  justice.  On  the  same  day, 
Charles  Reed  presented  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners a  deed  of  twelve  blocks,  containing  two 
and  one-half  acres  each,  situated  about  two 
miles  above  the  ferry  crossing,  conditioned  that 
it  should  belong  to  the  county  so  long  as  it  re- 
mained the  seat  of  justice. 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.   LYDIA  WILLIAMS 

The  report  of  the  special  commissioners  was 
rejected  by  the  county  commissioners  upon  good 
and  sufficient  grounds,  and  it  was  ordered  that 
the  circuit  and  county  commissioners  courts 
should  be  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  S.  Haight, 
until  the  matter  of  location  be  determined  by 
the  people.  This  contention  between  Boilvin  &. 
Co.,  and  the  county  commissioners  as  to  the 
location  of  the  county  seat  was  continued  for 
a  period  of  several  years  and  led  to  an  enact- 
ment by  the  state  legislature,  approved  March  2, 
1839,  submitting  the  question  to  a  popular  vote 
and  providing  that  an  election  for  this  purpose 
should  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1839 

Charles  Reed  had  been  the  moving  spirit  in 
the  interests  of  Boilvin  &  Co.,  in  the  effort  to 


locate  the  seat  of  justice  at  Winnebago,  the  point 
re.'erred  to  up  the  river.  He  was  a  shrewd  busi- 
ness manager,  but  as  the  results  of  the  election 
will  show,  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  The 
law  provided  that  if  a  majority  of  one  hundred 
of  the  votes  cast  should  be  in  favor  of  Winnebago, 
that  town  should  remain  the  permanent  county 
seat.  At  the  election  sixtownswere  in  the  race 
for  county  seat  honors,  of  which  Rockford  re- 
ceived three  hundred  and  twenty  votes;  Winne 
bago  seventy-five;  Roscoe,  two;  Willow  Creek, 
five;  Pecatonica,  one;  and  Scipio  one,  out  of  a 
total  of  four  hundred  and  four.  Rockford  hav- 
ing received  a  majority  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty-six  votes  carried  off  the  victory  and  secured 
the  plum  upon  which  it  has  since  fattened  to 
rotund  proportions. 

Winnebago  lost  its  prestige  and  gradually 
declined,  until  in  1847  its  plat  was  vacated  by 
special  act  of  the  state  legislature,  and  Charles 
Reed,  its  promoter,  removed  to  Rockton,  where 
he  died  August  26,  1863. 

Pursuant  to  the  result  of  the  election  in  favor 
of  Rockford,  the  county  commissioners,  on  June 
8,  1839,  selected  the  public  square  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  as  the  site  for  the  location  of 
the  court  house.  Considerable  material  was 
donated  and  placed  upon  the  ground  for  this 
building,  but  the  work  of  construction  was  delayed 
for  the  want  of  funds.  On  September  28,  1841 , 
a  proposition  was  made  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners by  a  number  of  West  Side  residents  to 
furnish  suitable  quarters  for  the  county  offices 
and  a  jail  in  West  Rockford.  This  proposition 
was  accepted  by  the  commissioners,  conditioned 
upon  the  execution  of  a  bond  for  $1 ,000  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  these  undertakings. 

On  December  1  1  th  the  building  for  the  use  of 
the  couniy  offices  was  reported  to  be  ready  for 
occupancy.  It  was  located  on  the  ground  now 
occupied  by  the  Mead  block,  on  South  Main 
street.  The  donors  were  given  five  months  in 
which  to  complete  the  jail.  This  was  a  log 
structure  and  was  located  on  the  east  side  of 
the  present  court  houss  square. 

It  would  seem  that  now  the  location  of  the 
county  seat  was  definitely  settled,  but  that  was  not 
the  fact.  The  contention  was  started  by  those 
interested  in  the  Winnebago  site,  as  to  the 


20 


ROCKFORD 


legality  of  the  May,  1839,  election.  The  point 
at  issue  was,  whether  the  law  authorized  an  elec- 
tion to  select  a  site  for  the  seat  of  justice  or 
simply  for  its  removal. 

The  county  commissioners,  at  their  meeting 
in  Septembtr,  1841,  each  expressed  a  different 
opinion  in  relation  to  the  matter,  thus  creating 
a  dead-lock,  so  that  nothing  was  definitely  settled. 


sense  of  the  voters  at  the  August  election  on 
the  question  as  to  whether  the  county  buildings 
should  be  located  in  East  or  West  Rockford. 
The  verdict  seemed  to  be  in  favor  of  West 
Rockford. 

In  April,  1843,  Daniel  Haight  and  others, 
submitted  a  proposition  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners, to  build  a  court  house  and  jail  on  the 


Or    b.    o.   o 


UMNER 


On  May  10,  1842,  the  commissioners  asked 
the  written  opinion  of  the  county  attorneys  as  to 
the  effect  of  the  popular  vote  of  1839.  The 
unanimous  opinion  of  the  bar  was  to  the  effect 
that  the  county  seat  had  been  changed  from 
Winnebago  to  Rockford,  in  accordance  with  the 
evident  intent  of  the  law. 

At  the  session  of  the  commissioners'  court 
in  July,  1842,  the  judges  of  the  election  in  the 
several  precincts  were  authorized  to  take  the 


East  side  to  cost  $4,000.  This  proposition 
could  not  then  be  accepted.  A  few  days  later 
West  side  citizens  submitted  a  similar  proposi- 
tion, agreeing  to  erect  such  buildings  as  the  com- 
missioners might  determine  necessary,  and  for 
which  they  were  to  submit  plans  and  to  begin 
their  construction  before  the  first  day  of  the 
following  June,  and  to  complete  them  before  the 
first  day  of  January,  1844.  The  donors  were  to 
deed  to  the  county  two  and  one -half  acres  of 


ROCKFORD 


21 


land  upon  which  the  buildings  were  to  be  placed. 
This  proposition  was  accepted  with  the  following 
conditions,  viz.:  good  and  sufficient  security  in 
the  sum  of  $20,000  within  twenty  days,  the 
buildings  to  be  worth  not  less  than  $6,000,  to 
make  a  written  contract  to  erect  the  buildings 
proposed,  and  this  contract  to  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  clerk  within  three  days  after  its 


in  July.  The  buildings  were  furnished  by  the 
people  of  West  Rockford  without  expense  to  the 
county. 

The  first  term  of  court  was  held  in  August, 
1844.  The  presiding  judge  was  Thomas  C. 
Brown,  James  Mitchell  was  the  clerk,  and  G.  A. 
Sanford  sheriff. 


EAST  STATE  STREET,   LOOKING  WEST 


approval  These  conditions  were  all  complied 
with.  The  commissioners  designated  block 
twenty-five  in  West  Rockford,  as  the  place  for 
the  erection  of  the  buildings. 

After  a  contention  of  seven  years  the  county 
seat  had  been  permanently  located  in  Rockford, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

The  brick  jail  was  completed  and  occupied 
January  1,  1844.  The  wooden  court  house  was 
completed  and  accepted  by  the  commissioners 


SETTLERS  OF   1837. 

As  in  previous  years,  Rockford  enjoyed  the 
acquisition  of  a  class  of  people  to  its  citizen- 
ship during  1837  that  constituted  a  valuable  ele- 
ment in  the  development  of  its  future  possibili- 
ties. It  may  be  said  that  Rockford  was  exceed- 
ingly fortunate  in  its  early  days  in  being  selected 
as  the  place  of  residence  of  so  large  a  number 
of  liberal  minded  and  public  spirited  men,  who 
exerted  their  energies  and  expended  their  means 


22 


ROCKFORD 


in  the  permanent  upbuilding  of  their  home  town. 
Progress  in  the  development  of  those  features 
that  embellish  and  adorn  a  beautiful  city  kept 
pace  with  the  increase  of  population.  Shade 
tress  were  planted,  parks  were  established  and 
the  log  cabins  were  replaced  by  more  comfort- 
able and  pretentious  buildings.  During  this  year 
the  first  lawyer  of  the  town,  John  C.  Kemble, 
opened  an  office  on  South  Madison  street  in 
connection  with  Dr.  Goodrich.  Mr.  Kemble  was 
a  man  o'  much  ability  and  had  been  a  member 
of  the  general  assembly  of  New  York.  Ex- 
Governor  Marcy  and  wife  of  New  York,  were 
guests  at  the  Kemb'e  home  during  the  summer. 
Mr.  Kemble  lost  his  reason,  and  was  taken  to 
an  eastern  asylum,  where  he  died  in  1840.  He 
had  two  sons,  one  of  whom  died  in  Italy  and  the 
other  established  the  California  Star,  the  first 
English  newspaper  in  San  Francisco. 

John  Lake  was  born  March  27,  1821,  in 
Selwonhy  Parish,  England,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1837,  arriving  in  Rockford  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year.  He  acquired  the  carpenter's 
trade,  became  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  lumbsr  business  with  Phineas  Howes 
from  1852  to  1856.  After  a  visit  to  Europe,  he 
re-engaged  in  the  lumbsr  business  with  Mr. 
Howes,  and  sold  out  to  Cook  &.  Brother  in  1859. 
In  1850  he  again  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness with  Henry  Fisher  on  the  West  side,  which 
partnership  was  continued  to  1867,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Europe  for  an  extended  visit.  Return- 
ing in  1 868  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Seely 
Perry  and  engaged  in  the  lumbsr  business  on 
the  East  side  during  the  next  six  ysars.  He 
visited  Europe  in  1874,  1877.  1889  and  1891. 
Mr.  Lake  was  connected  with  the  Rockford 
Insurance  Company  during  its  business  life.  He 
represented  the  Second  ward  in  the  Council  for 
ten  consecutive  years.  He  has  been  a  supervisor 
and  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Education.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Almeda  M.  Danley,  of  Har- 
lem, October  1  1.  1849. 

Henry  Thurston  and  his  son,  John  H.,  arrived 
in  March  from  Troy,  New  York.  John  H.  was 
married  and  resided  in  Rockford  until  the  death  of 
his  wife  in  1890.  For  more  than  forty  years 
their  home  was  in  the  brick  house  on  South  Madi- 
son street,  which  was  used  as  an  annex  for 


the  high  school  for  several  years.  Mr.  Thurston 
published  his  Reminiscences  of  Pioneer  Life,  in 
1 89 1 ,  which  have  been  highly  appreciated  by  all 
classes  of  readers.  He  died  September  19, 
1896. 

Samuel  D.  Preston  came  to  Rockford  from 
New  York,  and  resided  on  North  Madison  street 
and  later  where  the  Rockford  Lumber  and  Fuel 
Company's  office  now  stands.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent business  man  and  a  public  office  holder,  be- 
ing county  treasurer  four  years.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1844. 

Eleazer  Hubble  Potter  was  born  in  Fairfield 
County,  Connecticut,  and  upon  his  arrival  in 
Rockford  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Samuel 
D.  Preston  and  engaged  in  business.  He  was 
prominent  in  church  and  educational  interests, 
and  was  one  of  Rockford's  early  bankers.  He 
built  the  house  now  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Mead 
Holmes,  and  later  the  fine  residence  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Hon.  Gilbert  Woodruff.  Mr.  Potter 
died  September  1,  1861.  Mrs.  William  Lath- 
rop  is  a  daughter,  and  Commodore  Potter,  of 
Belvidere,  is  a  son. 

Nathaniel  Wilder  was  born  in  Lancaster, 
Massachusetts,  June  30,  1794,  and  came  to 
Rockford  in  March,  1837.  He  carried  on  the 
business  o!  blacksmithing  for  twenty-five  years, 
and  became  the  owner  of  considerable  property. 
He  died  Ju'y  1 1 ,  1884,  aged  ninety  years. 

Goodyear  Asa  Sanford  was  born  in  Hamden, 
Connecticut,  in  1814,  and  came  to  Rockford  in 
1837.  He  at  once  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness and  was  prominent  in  social  and  political 
affairs.  He  served  as  sheriff  of  the  county  and 
held  the  office  of  county  school  commissioner. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Dick- 
erman,  Wheeler  &  Co.,  which  was  organized 
January  1,  1855.  In  1856  the  firm  name  was 
changed  to  Lane,  Sanford  &  Co.  A  reorganiza- 
tion took  place  in  1 864,  when  the  Second  National 
Bank  was  established  with  Mr.  Sanford  as  cash- 
ier. He  was  afterward  elected  to  the  presidency 
of  the  bank,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until 
his  death  in  1894.  The  failure  of  this  bank 
occurred  in  1896,  and  H.  H.  Waldo  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  receivership.  The  liquidation  was 
completed  in  1900,  when  all  claims  were  prac- 
tically settled  in  full. 


ROCKFORD 


David  D.  Ailing  was  born  at  Westfield,  Con- 
necticut, April  27,  1813  and  came  to  Rockford 
in  October,  1837.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade 
and  built  the  old  First  Congregational  church,  on 
the  West  side.  During  a  residence  of  sixty-one 
years  in  Rockford,  he  was  a  contractor  and 
builder  and  acquired  considerable  valuable  prop- 


Mary  I,  and  Anna  in  this  city.     Mr.  Beattie  died 
December  3,  1889. 

Benjamin  Kilburn  was  born  in  Belchertown, 
Massachusetts,  August  8,  1808.  He  built  a 
house  on  the  site  of  the  Nelson  House  where  it 
remained  until  1 89 1 .  He  afterward  purchased  a 
quarter  section  of  land,  in  the  northwest  part  of 


RESIDENCE  OF  INGALLS  CARLTON 


erty.     He  died  August  1,  1898.     Frank  Ailing 
and  Mrs.  P.  W.  Dankey  are  his  children. 

John  Beattie  was  one  of  the  first  immigrants 
from  Ireland  to  this  section  of  Illinois.  He  was 
of  Scotch  ancestry  and  was  born  in  Ireland  June 
21,  1811.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
built  the  old  court  house.  He  acquired  valuable 
real  estate  in  the  city,  which  now  belongs  to  the 
Beattie  estate.  Two  sons,  Edward  W.  and 
George  D.,  reside  in  Montana,  and  two  daughters, 


town,  upon  which  the  stone  quarry,  now  operated 
by  his  son-in-law,  T.  W.  Carrico,  is  located. 
Kilburn  avenue  is  named  in  his  honor.  Mr. 
Kilburn  died  in  1860. 

John  Miller,  the  second  resident  lawyer, 
arrived  during  this  year.  He  was  a  popular 
orator  and  took  an  active  part  as  a  whig  in  the 
campaign  of  1840. 

There  were  probably  a  score  of  other  arrivals 
during  the  year,  among  whom  might  be  men- 


ROCKFORD 


tioned  Elisha  A.  Kirk,  Levi  Taft,  William  Two- 
good,  Eli  Hall,  Lewis  Keith,  P.  S.  Doolittle, 
Joseph  Hayes  and  William  Peters. 

The  late  Judge  Selden  M.  Church  is  authority 
for  the  statement  that  the  total  population  of  the 
county  in  June,  1837,  was  1,086. 

BUILDINGS  IN    1838. 

Sixty-seven  years  ago  there  were  only  four 
buildings  north  of  State  street  in  West  Rockford  : 
the  ferry  house  on  the  site  of  the  public  library 
(not  the  Carnegie  building);  Abiram  Morgan's 
log  house,  on  the  site  of  the  Horsman  residence; 
a  log  cabin  on  the  river  bank,  north  of  the  ferry- 
house,  and  a  board  house  near  the  site  of  the  A. 
D.  Forbes  residence. 

South  of  State  street  there  were  quite  a 
number  of  cabins,  among  which  was  a  log  house 
near  the  corner  of  State  and  Main  streets;  D. 
D.  Alling's  house  in  block  one,  south  of  State 
street ;  a  house  opposite  the  present  post  office  ; 
another  on  the  corner  north  of  the  Northwestern 
depot ;  Benjamin  Kilburn's  home  on  site  of  the 
Nelson  House ;  Kent's  house  and  mill,  near 
Kent's  creek  and  W.  E.  Dunbar's  house,  south 
of  the  creek. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  river  were  a  greater 
number  of  buildings,  among  them,  the  Rockford 
House,  the  only  hotel  between  Belvidere  and 
Freeport ;  Bundy  &  Goodhue's  store  on  the 
corner  of  State  and  Madison  streets ;  south  of 
this  was  the  Haight  building,  which  contained 
the  postoffice;  Potter  &  Preston's  store  stood  on 
the  corner  of  State  and  Madison  streets  ;  east  of 
Potter  &  Preston's  store  was  the  foundation  of 
the  Washington  House,  Daniel  Haight's  house 
and  Worthington  &  Searle's  drug  store. 
East  of  the  alley  on  State  street  was  Samuel 
Little's  saloon,  the  first  in  Rockford ;  Samuel 
Corey's  house,  William  Penfield's  blacksmith 
shop  and  Dr.  David  Goodrich's  house,  in  the  rear 
of  which  was  a  log  schoolhouse.  Anson  Barnum's 
double  log  house,  on  the  site  of  the  car  barns, 
and  the  houses  of  John  Phelps,  John  C.  Kemble, 
James  Clark,  Thomas  Lake,  Sidney  Twogood, 
John  Vance,  James  Boswell  and  Jacob  Posson. 

The  Winnebago  House  was  built  in  1838  by 
Dr.  Haskell,  on  the  site  of  Andrew  Ashton's 
store.  This  was  the  first  brick  store  built  north 


of  Rock  Island,  on  Rock  river.  The  building 
was  first  used  as  a  store  and  later  converted 
into  a  hotel. 

CHRISTENING  AND  INCORPORATION 
OF  THE  VILLAGE. 

"What's  in  a  name,"  is  as  applicable  to  a 
town  or  city  as  to  an  individual.  Possibly  less 
significance  is  attached  to  the  names  of  towns 
derived  from  individuals  than  from  any  other 
source.  There  is  no  particular  significance  in 
the  names  Smithville,  Jonesville  or  Brownville, 
further  than  the  fact  that  Smith,  Jones  or  Brown 
was  the  first  settler  and  perpetuated  his  name  in 
that  of  the  town.  The  name  Rockford  is  unique 
and  attractive,  when  compared  with  that  of  Kent- 
ville  or  Haightville  if  a  name  of  a  first  settler  had 
been  perpetuated  in  the  name  of  the  town. 

The  first  suggestion  of  a  name  was  made  by 
Mrs.  Kent,  which  was  Midway,  as  the  town  was 
located  about  midway  between  Chicago  and 
Galena,  but  what  significance  would  there  be  in 
the  name  today?  This  name  was  recognized  for 
several  years  and  what  little  mail  found  its  way 
to  this  community  was  addressed  to  "  Midway, 
Rock  River,  Jo  Daviess  County,  Illinois." 

Under  date  of  October  17,  1837,  Mr.  Kent 
writes  a  letter  from  Rockford,  Illinois.  It  is  not 
fully  certain  as  to  who  proposed  this  name  or 
when,  but  doubtless  the  first  semi-official  action 
was  taken  by  Daniel  S.  Haight,  Germanicus 
Kent,  William  H.  Gilman  of  Belvidere,  John  P. 
Chapin  and  Ebinezer  Peck  of  Chicago,  and 
Stephen  Edgel  of  St.  Louis,  who  met  in  the  office 
of  Dr.  Goodhue,  on  Lake  street,  in  Chicago, 
on  business  connected  with  their  mill  privilege 
located  at  this  place.  It  is  said  that  Dr.  Good- 
hue  proposed  the  name  Rockford,  on  account 
of  the  rock-bottom  ford  in  the  river  at  this  point. 
At  least,  these  gentlemen  unanimously  adopted 
this  name  at  this  time,  which  was  in  the  year 
1835. 

The  general  law  of  1831,  made  provision  for 
the  incorporation  of  towns  in  the  state  that  had 
a  population  of  not  less  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  white  males  over  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
In  1839,  the  people  of  Rockford  felt  that  it  would 
be  to  the  advantage  of  the  community  to  take 
the  benefit  of  this  act.  Accordingly  notices  were 


ROCKFORD 


posted,  calling  a  meeting  of  citizens  at  the  Rock- 
ford  House,  on  April  1,  1839.  At  this  meeting 
David  Goodrich  was  chosen  chairman  and  James 
Mitchell  clerk.  It  was  resolved  that  the  two 
villages  of  Rockford,  east  and  west  sides  of  Rock 
river,  be  incorporated  into  one  town.  Commit- 
tees were  appointed  to  ascertain  the  number  of 
inhabitants,  to  draft  an  act  of  incorporation  and 


ferryman  made  a  favorable  report,  upon  which 
the  meeting,  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  completed  the 
act  of  incorporation.  An  election  for  five  trus- 
tees was  held  April  10,  at  which  Dr.  Goodhue, 
Daniel  S.  Haight,  Samuel  Little,  Ephriam  Wy- 
man,  and  Isaiah  Lyon  were  elected.  These 
trustees  organized  by  electing  Daniel  S.  Haight, 
President ;  Anson  Barnum,  clerk  ;  John  C.  Kem- 


RESIDENCE  OF  WM.   KNAPP 


to  confer  with  Mr.  Brinkerhoff  in  relation  to  free 
ferriage  for  the  people  of  the  county.  An  ad- 
journed meeting  was  held  April  3d,  but  no  busi- 
ness was  transacted.  A  second  adjourned  meet- 
ing was  held  on  the  evening  of  the  4th  inst.,  at 
which  the  reports  of  the  committees  were  sub- 
mitted. The  census  committee  reported  the 
population  to  be  235.  The  committee  to  draft 
an  act  of  incorporation  presented  an  acceptable 
document,  and  the  committee  to  confer  with  the 


ble,  attorney ;  Isaiah  Lyon,  collector  and  treas_ 
urer  ;  Henry  Thurston,  assessor  for  first  district; 
Nathaniel  Wilder,  for  the  third  district;  and  S. 
D.  Peterson,  for  the  fourth  district.  Thus  Rock- 
ford  entered  upon  its  municipal  career  as  an 
incorporated  village,  which  continued  until  Jan- 
unary,  1852. 

In  1851  the  people  of  the  village  felt  that 
the  town  had  outgrown  its  limited  municipal  en- 
vironments and  that  better  facilities  for  the  con- 


26 


ROCKFORD 


duct  of  its  corporate  affairs  should  be  secured. 
Prompted  by  this  sentiment,  a  call  was  signed  by 
Jason  Marsh,  G.  A.  Sanford,  Willard  Wheeler, 
Isaiah  Lyon,  George  Wyatt,  Newton  Crawford, 
C.  I.  Horsman,  W.  .A.  Dickerman,  W.  P. 
Dennis,  Jesse  Blinn  and  William  Hulin,  for  a 
meeting  of  citizens  to  be  held  at  the  court  house 
on  November  29th,  to  take  action  in  the  matter  of 


Damon,  First  ward;  E.  H.  Potter,  Second  ward; 
H.  N.  Spalding,  Third  ward;  C.  N.Andrews, 
Fourth  ward.  William  Lathrop  was  appointed 
clerk. 

An  ordinance  was  passed  creating  the  fol- 
lowing city  officers;  clerk  of  the  council,  attorney, 
treasurer,  marshal,  assessor,  collector,  engineer 
and  two  street  commissioners.  These  officers 


RESIDENCE  OF  R.   H.  SHUMWAY 


incorporating  as  a  city.  It  was  resolved  at  this 
meeting  to  submit  the  matter  to  a  vote  of  the 
people,  and  for  this  purpose  the  village  trustees 
ordered  an  election  to  be  held  on  January  3, 
1 852.  At  this  election,  the  votes  were  cast  in  favor 
of  organizing  under  the  general  law  of  1849,  and 
the  city  government  of  Springfield  was  adopted 
as  a  basis  of  organization. 

The  first  city  election  was  held  April  19, 
1852,  at  which  Willard  Wheeler  was  chosen 
mayor.  The  alderman  elected  were :  Sumner 


were  to  be  appointed  annually  by  the  city  council, 
at  its  first  regular  meeting  after  the  first  annual 
municipal  election.  At  the  second  session  of  the 
council,  held  May  1 ,  the  following  city  officers 
were  appointed :  William  Lathrop,  attorney ; 
Hiram  R.  Maynard,  treasurer ;  Duncan  Fergu- 
son, assessor;  K.  H.  Milliken,  collector;  Dun- 
can Ferguson,  city  engineer ;  Thatcher  Blake 
and  William  McKenney,  street  commissioners. 
A  special  act  of  the  legislature,  of  June  18, 
1852,  authorized  the  city  to  issue  bonds,  not 


ROCKFORD 


27 


exceeding  $10,000  in  amount,  with  which  to 
build  a  bridge  across  the  river.  This  sum  not 
being  sufficient,  a  second  act  was  passed  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1853,  authorizing  the  issue  of  $15,000 
in  bonds,  and  the  first  act  was  repealed.  From 
the  sale  of  these  bonds  a  covered  bridge  was 
built  in  1854. 

There  being  some  technical  irregularity  in 
the  incorporation  of  the  city,  a  special  act  of  the 
legislature  was  passed  and  approved  February  8, 
1853,  legalizing  the  previous  official  acts  of  the 
mayor  and  council. 

A  special  charter  was  granted  to  the  city,  by 
the  legislature,  March  4,  1854,  and  the  general 
law  of  1849  was  declared  to  be  no  longer  in 
force,  so  far  as  Rockford  was  concerned,  except 
for  the  completion  of  matter  already  begun  under 
the  old  law. 

This  charter  was  amended  February  14, 
1853,  April  26,  1859  and  February  22,  1861. 

"An  Act  of  the  legislature  to  reduce'  the 
charter  of  the  City  of  Rockford,  and  the  several 
Acts  amendatory  thereof  into  one  Act  and  to 
revise  and  amend  the  same,"  was  approved  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1865. 

Rockford  was  governed  by  this  charter  until 
the  city  was  reorganized  under  the  general  law. 
This  general  law,  enacted  in  1872,  repealed  the 
general  law  of  1849,  and  abolished  the  system 
of  special  charters. 

Previous  to  1887,  the  mayor  was  elected 
annually.  A  complete  roster  of  the  city  officials, 
since  its  organization  in  1852  to  1903,  is 
appended. 

1852.  Mayor,  Willard  Wheeler.    Aldermen 
first    ward,     Sumner   Damon;     second    ward, 
E.   H.   Potter;    third  ward,    H.  N.   Spaulding; 
fourth  ward,    C.  N.  Andrews;    City  Clerk,  Wil- 
liam Lathrop;  City  Attorney,  William  Lathrop; 
City  Treasurer,  H.   R.   Raymond;  Police  Mar- 
shall, John  Platt. 

1853.  Mayor,  Hiram  R.  Maynard.  Alder- 
men,   first   ward,  A.  Hitchcock;   second  ward, 
H.    D.    Searles;    third   ward,    U.   M.  Warner; 
fourth  ward,    C.  N.  Andrews;    City  Clerk,  J.  K. 
Farwell;    City  Attorney,    L.    F.   Warner;    City 
Treasurer,     E.    L.    Fuller;      Police    Marshal, 
Willard  Wheeler. 

1854.  Mayor,  N.  M.  Warner;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  A.   Hitchcock;  second  ward,  Jason 


Marsh:  third  ward,  T.  D.  Robertson;  fourth 
ward,  Newton  Crawford;  City  Clerk,  L.  F. 
Warner.  City  Attorney,  L.  F.  Warner;  City 
Treasurer,  B.  G.  Wheeler;  Police  Marshal, 
John  Travis. 

1855.  Mayor,  Edward  Vaughn;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  P.  B.  Crosby;    second  ward,  Jason 
Marsh;   third  ward,  Henry  Fisher;   fourth  ward, 
Newton  Crawford;    fifth  ward,  John  P.  Manny; 
City  Clerk,  S.  W.  Stanley;  City  Attorney,  L.  F. 
Warner;  City  Treasurer,  B.  G.  Wheeler;  Police 
Marshal,  James  Dame. 

1856.  Mayor,  James  L.  Loop;  Aldermen, 
first   ward,    P.    B.    Crosby;    second   ward,    P. 
Hower;    third  ward,  T.  D.   Robertson;    fourth 
ward,  Isaac  Andrus;    fifth  ward,  J.  G.  Manlove; 
City  Clerk,  H.  H.  Hatch;    City  Attorney,  Orrin 
Miller,    Jr.;    City   Treasurer,    G.    A.    Sanford; 
Police  Marshal,  Ira  Baker. 

1857.  Mayor,  William  Brown;    Aldermen, 
first   ward,   John    Spafford;    second   ward,    P. 
Howes;   third  ward,  D.  D.  Ailing;    fourth  ward, 
Isaac  Andrus;    fifth  ward,  J.  G.   Manlove;    City 
Clerk,  Edward  Vaughn;    City  Attorney,  James 
M.    Wight;    City   Treasurer,     G.    A.    Sanford; 
Police    Marshals,    W.    P.    Dennis    and   J.    E. 
Langdon. 

1858.  Mayor,  Seeley    Perry;    Aldermen', 
first  ward,  John  Spafford;    second  ward,  George 
Troxell,  Jr.;    third  ward,  D.  D.  Ailing;    fourth 
ward,  H.  W.  Loomis;    fifth  ward,  J.  G.   Man- 
love;  City  Clerk,  L.  W.  Burnham;    City  Attor- 
ney,   H.    D.    Adams;    City   Treasurer,   A    C. 
Spafford;    Police  Marshal,  E.  C.  Roberts. 

1859.  Mayor,   Charles   Williams;    Alder- 
men, first   ward,    R.    A.    Bird;    second   ward, 
George  Troxell,  Jr.;    third  ward,  Daniel  Dow; 
fourth  ward,  H.  W.  Loomis;    fifth  ward,  J.  G. 
Manlove;  City  Clerk,  Porter  Sheldon;    City  At- 
torney, Porter  Sheldon;    City  Treasurer,   A.  C. 
Spafford;    Police  Marshals,    M.  J.  Upright  and 
M.  H.  Regan. 

1860.  Mayor,    Charles   Williams;    Alder- 
men, first  ward,  R.  A.  Bird;  second  ward,  Ben- 
jamin Wingate,  third  ward,  Daniel  Dow;  fourth 
ward,  J.  S.  Coleman;  fifth  ward,  J.  G.  Manlove; 
City  Clerk,  R   C.  Bailey;    City  Attorney,  C.  M. 
Brazee;  City  Treasurer,  A.  C.  Spafford;  Police 
Marshal,  A.  J.  Pennock. 


28 


ROCKFORD 


1 86 1 .  Mayor,  Charles  Williams;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  C.  W.  Sheldon;  second  ward,  Benja- 
min Wingate;    third  ward,  Daniel  Dow;   fourth 
ward,  J.  S.  Coleman;  fifth  ward,  John  P  Manny; 
City  Clerk,  R.  C.  Bailey;    City  Attorney,  C.  M. 
Brazee;    City    Treasurer,     N.    C.    Thompson; 
Police  Marshal,  Ambrose  Halstead. 

1862.  Mayor.    Charles  Williams;   Alder- 
men, first  ward.   Henry   Strong  and  James  B. 


fourth  ward,  G.  A.  Sanford;  fifth  ward,  John  P. 
Manny;  City  Clerk,  R.  C.  Bailey;  City  Attor- 
ney, R.  C.  Bailey;  City  Treasurer,  N.  C. 
Thompson;  Police  Marshals,  John  Fisher,  M. 
J.  Upright  and  Jeremiah  Mosher. 

1864.  Mayor,  Albert  Fowler;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Anthony  Haines;  second  ward,  John 
Lake;  third  ward,  E.  L  Godfrey;  fourth  ward, 
G.  A.  Sanford;  fifth  ward.  Freeman  Graham; 


RESIDENCE  OF  GILBERT  WOODRUFF 


Howell;  second  ward,  Benjamin  Wingate;  third 
ward,  Daniel  Dow;  fourth  ward,  J.  S  Coleman; 
fifth  ward,  John  P.  Manny;  City  Clerk,  R.  C. 
Bailey;  City  Attorney,  C.  M.  Brazee;  City 
Treasurer,  N.  C.  Thompson;  Police  Marshal, 
Ambrose  Halstead. 

1863.  Mayor,  Charles  Williams;  Alder- 
men, first  ward,  Anthony  Haines;  second  ward, 
Benjamin  Wingate;  third  ward,  E.  L.  Godfrey; 


City  Clerk,  R.  C.  Bailey;  City  Attorney,  C.  M. 
Brazee;  City  Treasurer,  R.  P.  Lane;  Police 
Marshals,  G.  V.  Carr  and  James  Dame. 

1865.  Mayor,  Albert  Fowler;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  John  H.  Hall;  second  ward,  John 
Lake;  third  ward,  E.  L.  Godfrey;  fourth  ward, 
G.  A.  Sanford;  fifth  ward,  Freeman  Graham; 
City  Clerk,  R.  C  Bailey;  City  Attorney,  C.  M. 


ROCKFORD 


29 


Brazee;    City  Treasurer,   R.  P.   Lane;    Police 
Marshal  James  Dame. 

1866.  Mayor,  E  H.  Baker;  Aldermen  first, 
ward,  John  H.  Hall;  second  ward,  John  Lake; 
third  ward,  E.  L.  Godfrey;  fourth  ward,  G.  A. 
Sanford;  fifth  ward,  Freeman  Graham;  City 
Clerk,  O.  A.  Pennoyer;  City  Attorney,  C.  M. 
Brazee;  City  Treasurer.  R.  P.  Lane;  Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 


Lake;  third  ward,  James  B.  Agard;  fourth  ward, 
G  A.  Sanford;  fifth  ward.  Freeman  Graham; 
City  Clerk,  Jason  Marsh;  City  Attorney,  C  M. 
Brazee;  City  Treasurer.  D.  S.  Penfield;  Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1869.  Mayor,  S.  G.  Bronson;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  L.  H.  Potter;  second  ward,  John 
Lake;  third  ward,  Henry  Fisher;  fourth  ward, 


RESIDENCE  OF  E.  W.   BLA1SDELL 


1867.  Mayor.    Albert    Fowler;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,    L.   H.   Potter;    second    ward,    John 
Lake;  third  ward,  James  B  Agard;  fourth  ward, 
G.  A.  Sanford;    fifth  ward.  Freeman  Graham; 
City  Clerk,  Jason  Marsh;   City  Attorney,  C.  M. 
Brazee;     City    Treasurer,     M.    Starr;     Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully 

1868.  Mayor,   Edward   H.   Baker;    Alder- 
men, first  ward,  L.  H.  Potter;  second  ward,  John 


G.  A.  Sanford;  fifth  ward.  W.  D.  Trahern;  City 
Clerk,  Jason  Marsh;  City  Attorney,  C.  M.  Bra- 
zee;  City  Treasurer.  George  E.  King;  Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1870.  Mayor,  S.  G.  Bronson;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  L.  H.  Potter;  second  ward,  John 
Lake;  third  ward,  Henry  Fisher;  fourth  ward, 
G.  A.  Sanford;  fifth  ward,  W.  D.  Trahern;  City 
Clerk.  Jason  Marsh:  City  Attorney,  C.  M.  Bra- 


ROCKFORD 


zee;  City  Treasurer,  George  E.  King;    Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1871.  Mayor,  S.  G.  Bronson;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,   John  Spafford;    second  ward,  John 
Lake;  third  ward,  T.  P.  Buell;    fourth  ward,  G. 
A.  Sanford;  fifth  ward,  N.  C.  Thompson;    sixth 
ward,  T.  D.  Pitkin;    seventh  ward,  S   P.  Craw- 
ford;   City  Clerk,  Jason  Marsh;  City  Attorney, 
C.  M.  Brazee;  City  Treasurer,  M.  Starr;  Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1872.  Mayor,  S.  G.   Bronson;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  John  Spafford;    second  ward,  John 
Lake;  third  ward,  T.  P.  Buell;    fourth  ward,  C. 
O.  Upton;    fifth  ward,  N.  C.  Thompson;    sixth 
ward,  Ralph  Chaney;  seventh  ward,  S.  P.  Craw- 
ford;   City  Clerk,  Jason  Marsh;    City  Attorney, 
C.  M.  Brazee;  City  Treasurer.  D.  S.  Penfield; 
Police  Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1873.  Mayor,  Gilbert  Woodruff;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  John  Spafford;    second  ward,  D.  S. 
Penfield;  third  ward,  Daniel  Dow;   fourth  ward, 
C.  O.  Upton;  fifth  ward,  N.  C.  Thompson;  sixth 
ward,    Ralph    Chaney;     seventh    ward,    S.    P. 
Crawford;    City  Clerk,  Jason  Marsh;    City  At- 
torney,   W,  T.  Hyde;    City  Treasurer,    Horace 
Brown;  Police  Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1 874.  Mayor,  Gilbert  Woodruff;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  John  Spafford;    second  ward,  Seeley 
Perry;    third  ward,  Daniel  Dow;    fourth  ward, 
C.  O.  Upton;  fifth  ward,  N.  C.  Thompson;  sixth 
ward,    Ralph    Chaney;     seventh    ward,    S.    P. 
Crawford;  City  Clerk,  Jason  Marsh;  City  Attor- 
ney, C.  M.  Brazee;  City  Treasurer,  G.  A   San- 
ford;  Police  Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1875.  Mayor,    Robert  H.  Tinker;    Alder- 
men, first  ward,  Anthony  Haines;  second  ward, 
Seeley  Perry;     third    ward,    George    E.   King; 
fourth  ward,  C.  O.  Upton;    fifth  ward,  Eliphaz 
Smith;    sixth   ward,    Ralph    Chaney;    seventh 
ward,  S.  P.  Crawford;  City  Clerk,  Jason  Marsh; 
City  Attorney,  E.  H.  Baker;    City  Treasurer, 
G.  A.  Sanford;    Police  Marshal.  Thomas  Sully. 

1876.  Mayor,   Levi  Rhoades;    Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Anthony  Haines;  second  ward,  Gilbert 
Woodruff;    third  ward,  George  E.  King;    fourth 
ward,    E.    L.    Woodruff;    fifth    ward,    Eliphaz 
Smith;    sixth  ward,   Harris    Barnum;    seventh 
ward,  S.  P.  Crawford;  City  Clerk,  H.  W.  Rowell; 
City  Attorney,  L.  F.  Warner;    City  Treasurer, 


George  H.  Trufant;  Police  Marshal,    Thomas 
Sully. 

1877.  Mayor,  Duncan    Ferguson;    Alder- 
men, first  ward,  Anthony  Haines;    second  ward, 
Gilbert  Woodruff;    third  ward,  George  E.  King; 
fourth  ward,  E.  L.  Woodruff;   fifth  ward,  Byron 
Graham;    sixth  ward,  Harris  Barnum;    seventh 
ward,  S.  P.  Crawford;   City  Clerk,  A.  P.  Wells; 
City  Attorney,  L.   F.  Warner;    City  Treasurer, 
Horace  Brown;    Police  Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1878.  Mayor,  William  Watson;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Anthony  Haines;  second  ward,  H.  C. 
Scovill;.    third    ward,    George  E.  King;    fourth 
ward,    George  S.    Haskell;    fifth  ward,    Byron 
Graham;    sixth  ward,   Harris  Barnum;    seventh 
ward,  S.  P.  Crawford;  City  Clerk,  A.  P.  Wells; 
City  Attorney,  E   B.  Sumner;    City  Treasurer, 
Horace  Brown;   Police  Marshal,  Thomas  Sully. 

1879.  Mayor,  Sylvester  B.  Wilkins;  Alder- 
men, first  ward,   Benjamin  H.  Witwer;  second 
ward,  H.  C.  Scovill;  third  ward,  George  E.  King; 
fourth   ward,    George  S.    Haskell;    fifth    ward, 
Henry  C.  Wilson;    sixth  ward,  Harris  Barnum; 
seventh  ward,  S.  P.  Crawford;  City  Clerk,  E.  K. 
Conkling;    City  Attorney,  R.  F.  Crawford;    City 
Treasurer,     N.    E.    Lyman;      Police    Marshal, 
Thomas  Sully. 

1880.  Mayor,  Sylvester  B.  Wilkins;  Alder- 
men, first  ward,   Benjamin  H.  Witwer;  second 
ward,  Horace  Scovill;    third  ward,  George  E. 
King;    fourth    ward,    George  S.   Haskell;    fifth 
ward,  Henry  C.  Wilson;  sixth  ward,  S.  A.  John- 
son; seventh  ward,  S.  P.  Crawford;  City  Clerk, 
E.  K.  Conkling;  City  Attorney,  R.  F.  Crawford; 
City  Treasurer,  N    E.  Lyman;    Police  Marshal, 
P.  A.  Coonradt;    Fire  Marshal,  John  T.  Lakin. 

1881.  Mayor,  Samuel  P.  Crawford,  Alder- 
men, first  ward,  E.  M.  Holmes,  B.  R.  Waldo; 
second  ward,  H.  C.  Scovill,  J.  M.  Southgate; 
third  ward,  T.  J.  Derwent,  John  Belford;  fourth 
ward,    W.  O.  Wormwood,    George  S.  Haskell; 
fifth  ward,    Henry  C.  Wilson,   Levi   B.   Fuller; 
sixth  ward,  R.  A.  Shepherd,  C.   E.   Knudson; 
seventh  ward,  James  Ferguson,  Joseph  Burnes; 
City  Clerk,  E.  K.  Conkling;  City  Attorney,  N.  C. 
Warner;  City  Treasurer,  Horace  Brown;  Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully;    Fire  Marshal,  John  T. 
Lakin;  Police  Magistrate,  Arthur  H.  Frost. 


ROCKFORD 


1882.  Mayor,  Samuel  P.  Crawford;  Alder- 
men, first  ward,  B.  R.  Waldo,  E.  M.  Holmes; 
second  ward,  J.  M.  Southgate,  H.  C.  Scovlll; 
third  ward,  John  Belford,  T.  J.  Derwent;  fourth 
ward,  George  S.  Haskell,  W.  O.  Wormwood; 
fifth  ward,  Levi  B.  Fuller,  Lewis  Predmore, 
W.  L.  Harbison;  sixth  ward,  C.  E.  Knudson, 
W.  H.  Miller;  seventh  ward,  Joseph  Burnes, 
James  Ferguson;  City  Clerk,  E.  K.  Conkling; 
City  Attorney,  N.  C.  Warner;  City  Treasurer, 


Warner;  City  Treasurer,  George  E.  King;  Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully;  Fire  Marshal,  John  T. 
Lakin;  Police  Magistrate,  Arthur  H.  Frost. 

1884.  Mayor,  Alfred  Taggart;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Thomas  Ennett,  Thomas  F.  Palmer; 
second  ward,  J  M.  Southgate,  H.  C.  Scovill; 
third  ward,  B.  A.  Weber.  T.  J.  Derwent;  fourth 
ward,  D.  H.  Ferguson,  W.  O.  Wormwood;  fifth 
ward,  Thomas  Tole,  W.  L.  Harbison;  sixth 
ward,  C.  E.  Knudson,  E.  S.  Gregory;  seventh 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  JUDGE  CARVER 


Horace  Brown;  Police  Marshal,  Thomas  Sully; 
Fire  Marshal,  John  T.  Lakin;  Police  Magistrate, 
Arthur  H.  Frost. 

1883.  Mayor,  Alfred  Taggart;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  E.  M  Holmes,  Thomas  Ennett; 
second  ward.  H.  C.  Scovill,  J.  M.  Southgate; 
third  ward,  T.  J.  Derwent,  B.  A.  Weber;  fourth 
ward,  W.  O.  Wormwood,  D.  H.  Ferguson;  fifth 
ward,  W.  L.  Harbison,  Thomas  Tole;  sixth 
ward,  W.  H.  Miller,  C.  E.  Knudson;  seventh 
ward.  James  Ferguson,  Joseph  Burnes;  City 
Clerk,  E.  K.  Conkling;  City  Attorney,  N.  C. 


ward,  Joseph  Burnes,  James  Ferguson;  City 
Clerk,  E.  K  Conkling;  City  Attorney,  N.  C. 
Warner;  City  Treasurer,  George  E.  King;  Police 
Marshal,  Thomas  Sully;  Fire  Marshal,  John  T. 
Lakin;  Police  Magistrate,  Arthur  H.  Frost. 

1885.  Mayor,  Alfred  Taggart;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Thomas  F.  Palmer,  R.  J.  Randolph; 
second  ward,  H.  C.  Scovill,  E.  W.  Brown;  third 
ward,  T.  J.  Derwent.  John  M.  Kennedy;  fourth 
ward,  W.  0.  Wormwood,  D.  H.  Ferguson;  fifth 
ward,  W.  L.  Harbison,  Thomas  Tole:  sixth  ward, 
E.  S.  Gregory,  Thour  Munthe;  seventh  ward, 


ROCKFORD 


James  Ferguson,  T.  F.  Hopkins;  City  Clerk, 
E.  K.  Conkling;  City  Attorney,  George  M. 
Blake;  City  Treasurer,  W.  H.  McCutchan; 
Police  Marshal,  A.  H.  Webb;  Fire  Marshal. 
John  T.  Lakin;  Police  Magistrate,  Arthur  H. 
Frost. 

1886.     Mayor,  Alfred  Taggart;    Aldermen, 
first  ward,  C.  W.  Butterworth,  Charles  Ritchie; 


1887.  Mayor,  Horace  C.  Scovill;  Alder- 
men, first  ward,  Charles  Ritchie,  C.  W.  Butter- 
worth;  second  ward,  E.  W.  Brown,  John  L. 
Clark;  third  ward,  W.  B.  Reynolds,  T.  J.  Der- 
went;  fourth  ward,  E.  W.  Blaisdell.  Samuel 
N.  Jones;  fifth  ward,  Alvin  E.  Crowell,  Martin 
Rhoades;  sixth  ward,  G.  A.  Salstrom,  Wesley 
D.  Clark,  seventh  ward.S.  P.  Crawford,  Thomas 


RESIDENCE  OF  H.   H.   HAMILTON 


second  ward,  E.  W.  Brown,  H.  C.  Scovill;  third 
ward,  T.  J.  Derwent,  J.  M.  Kennedy;  fourth 
ward,  D.  H.  Ferguson,  Samuel  N.  Jones;  fifth 
ward,  W.  L.  Harbison,  G.  C.  Robertson;  sixth 
ward,  Wesley  D.  Clark,  Thour  Munthe;  seventh 
ward,  T.  F.  Hopkins,  Thomas  W.  Cole;  City 
Clerk,  E.  K.  Conkling;  City  Attorney,  George 
M.  Blake;  City  Treasurer,  W.  H.  McCutchan; 
Police  Marshal,  A.  W.  Webb;  Fire  Marshal, 
John  T.  Lakin;  Police  Magistrate,  Arthur  H. 
Frost. 


W.  Cole;  City  Clerk,  E.  K.  Conkling;  City  At- 
torney, A.  E.  Holt;  City  Treasurer,  Horace 
Brown;  Police  Marshal,  A.  W.  Webb;  Fire 
Marshal,  John  T.  Lakin;  Police  Magistrate,  L. 
L.  Morrison. 

1888.  Mayor,  Horace  C.  Scovill;  Alder- 
men, first  ward,  Jeremiah  Davis.  Samuel  P. 
Chaney;  second  ward,  Mead  Holmes,  E.  W. 
Brown;  third  ward,  T.  J.  Derwent,  W.  B.  Rey- 
nolds; fourth  ward,  Willis  M.  Kimball.  E.  W. 
Blaisdell;  fifth  ward,  W.  L.  Harbison,  Alvin  E. 


ROCKFORD 


Crowell;  sixth  ward,  Wesley  D.  Clark,  G.  A. 
Salstrom;  seventh  ward,  Thomas  W.  Cole, 
Samuel  P.  Crawford;  City  Clerk,  E.  K.  Conk- 
ling;  City  Attorney,  A.  E.  Holt;  City  Treasurer, 
Horace  Brown;  Police  Marshal,  A.  W.  Webb; 
Fire  Marshal,  John  T.  Lakin;  Police  Magistrate, 
L.  L.  Morrison. 

1889.  Mayor,  John  H.  Sherratt;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Jeremiah  Davis,  William  G.  Bennett; 
second  ward,  Mead  Holmes,  Edward  W.  Brown; 
third  ward,  Thomas  J.   Derwent,   W.   B.   Rey- 
nolds;   fourth  ward,  Willis  M.  Kimball    Henry 
N.  Starr;  fifth  ward,    W.    L.  Harbison,  O.  P. 
Trahern;    sixth  ward,  Wesley  D.  Clark,  G.  A. 
Salstrom;     seventh    ward.    Thomas   W.    Cole, 
Benjamin  F.  Lee;    City  Clerk.  E.  K.  Conkling; 
City  Attorney,  Edward  H.  Marsh;    City  Treas- 
urer,   C.  O.  Upton;    Police    Marshal,    A.    W. 
Webb;    Fire  Marshal,  John  T.  Lakin;    Police 
Magistrate,  L.  L.  Morrison. 

1890.  Mayor,  John  H.  Sherratt;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,    Jeremiah  Davis,    W.  G.    Bennett; 
second  ward,  Mead  Holmes,  E.  W.  Brown;  third 
ward,  T.  J.  Derwent,  W.  B.   Reynolds;   fourth 
ward,  Willis  M.  Kimball.  H.  N.  Starr;  fifth  ward, 
W.   L.   Harbison,  O.   P.  Trahern;    sixth  ward, 
W.  D.  Clark,   G.  A.  Salstrom;     seventh  ward, 
T.    W.    Cole,  B.   F.   Lee;    City  Clerk,  E.   K. 
Conkling;    City  Attorney,  E.   H.  Marsh;    City 
Treasurer,  C.  O.  Upton;   Police  Marshal,  A.  W. 
Webb;     Fire  Marshal,  John  T.  Lakin;    Police 
Magistrate.  L.  L.  Morrison. 

1891.  Mayor,  Henry  N.  Starr;  Aldermen, 
first   ward,    C.   H.  Woolsey,   R.  A.  Shepherd; 
second  ward,  A.  J.  Anderson,  E.  W.   Brown; 
third   ward,    T.  J.  Derwent,  Z.   B.  Sturtevant; 
fourth  ward,  W.  M.  Kimball.   L.  A.  Weyburn; 
fifth    ward,    W.  L.   Harbison,    O.   P.  Trahern; 
sixth   ward,   W.    D.    Clark,    G.    A.    Salstrom; 
seventh    ward,  T.  W.  Cole,  D.  G.  Spaulding; 
City  Clerk,  F.  G    Hogland;    City  Attorney,  R. 
K.  Welsh;  City  Treasurer,  John  D.  Waterman; 
Police  Marshal,  E.   L.  Tisdale;    Fire  Marshal, 
Edward    Heffran;     Police    Magistrate,    L.    L. 
Morrison. 

1892.  Mayor,  Henry  N.  Starr;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,    R.  A.  Shepherd,    C.   H.  Woolsey; 
second  ward,  E.  D.  Chandler,  A.  J.  Anderson; 
third    ward,  Z.   B.   Sturtevant,  T.  J.    Derwent; 


fourth  ward,  L  A.  Weyburn,  W.  M.  Kimball; 
fifth  ward,  O.  P.  Trahern,  Julius  Graham;  sixth 
ward.  G.  A.  Salstrom,  C.  A.  Newburg;  seventh 
ward,  D.  G.  Spaulding,  H.  H.  Stone;  City  Clerk, 

F.  G.   Hogland;    City  Attorney,  R.  K.  Welsh; 
City   Treasurer,    John  D.   Waterman;    Police 
Marshal,  E.  L.  Tisdale;    Fire  Marshal,  Edward 
Heffran;  Police  Magistrate,  L.  L.  Morrison. 

1893.  Mayor,  Amasa  Hutchins;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,    C.  H.  Woolsey,    R.  A.  Shepherd; 
second  ward,  A.  J.  Anderson,  E.  D.  Chandler; 
third  ward,    T.  J.   Derwent,    Z.  B.  Sturtevant; 
fourth  ward,  W.  M.  Kimball,  Wm.  Dyson;  fifth 
ward,  J.  Graham,  A.   E.   Crowell;    sixth  ward, 

G.  A.  Salstrom,  C.  A.  Newburg;   seventh  ward, 
H.  H.  Stone,  H.  W.  Dobson;  City  Clerk,  F.  G. 
Hogland;    City  Attorney,    R.   K    Welsh;    City 
Treasurer,  W.   F.  Woodruff;    Police  Marshal, 

E.  L.  Tisdale;    Fire   Marshal,  Edward  Heffran; 
Police  Magistrate,  L.  L.  Morrison. 

1894.  Mayor,  Amasa  Hutchins;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,    R.  A.  Shepherd,    William  Knapp; 
second  ward,  E.  D.  Chandler,  A.  J.  Anderson; 
third    ward,  Z.   B.  Sturtevant,  T.  J.   Derwent; 
fourth  ward,  William  Dyson,  W.  M.  Kimball; 
fifth    ward,    A.  E.  Crowell,    J.  Graham;    sixth 
ward,  G.  A.  Salstrom.  A.  Hollem;  seventh  ward, 
H.  W.  Dobson,  E.  C.  Dunn;    City  Clerk,  F.  G. 
Hogland;     City  Attorney,    R.   K.  Welsh;    City 
Treasurer,  W.   F.  Woodruff;    Police    Marshal, 
A.  E.  Bargren;    Fire  Marshal,  Edward  Heffran; 
Police  Magistrate,   L.  L.  Morrison. 

1895.  Mayor,    E.  W.  Brown;    Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Wm.  Knapp,  R.  A.  Shepherd;  second 
ward,  A.  J.  Anderson,   G.  V.  Lindblade;    third 
ward,  T.  j.  Derwent,  Z    B.  Sturtevant;    fourth 
ward.  W.  M.  Kimball,  F.  S.  Regan;  fifth  ward, 
Julius  Graham,  A.  E.  Crowell;    sixth  ward,  Al- 
bert Hollem,  Gust  Holm;    seventh  ward,  E.  C. 
Dunn,  John  Beatson;    City  Clerk,  F.  G.  Hog- 
land; City  Attorney,  R.  K.  Welsh;  City  Treas- 
urer,   C.    O.    Upton;     Police  Marshal,    A.    E. 
Bargren;   Fire  Marshal,  Edward  Heffran;  Police 
Magistrate,  L.  L.  Morrison. 

1896.  Mayor,  E.  W.   Brown;    Aldermen, 
first  ward,  R.  A.  Shepherd.  J.  T.  Joslin;  second 
ward,  G.  V.  Lindblade,  F.  G.  Stibb;  third  ward, 

F.  E.  Sterling,  T.  J.  Derwent;    fourth  ward,  F. 
S.  Regan,  W.   M.   Kimball;    fifth  ward,  A.   E. 


34 


ROCKFORD 


Crowell,  John  Lindsay;  sixth  ward,  Gust  Holm, 
J.  M.  Turner;  seventh  ward,  John  Beatson, 
E.  C.  Dunn;  City  Clerk,  F.  G.  Hogland;  City 
Attorney,  R.  K.  Welsh;  City  Treasurer,  C.  O. 
Upton;  Police  Marshal,  A  E.  Bargren;  Fire 
Marshal,  Edward  Heffran;  Police  Magistrate, 
L.  L.  Morrison. 

1897.  Mayor,  E.  W.  Brown;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  J.  T.  Joslin,  R.  A.  Shepherd;  second 
ward,  F.  G.  Stibb,  Hannes  Lawson;  third  ward. 


ward,  Hannes  Lawson,  F.  E.  Pearson;  third 
ward,  F.  E.  Sterling,  H.  J.  Gallagher;  fourth 
ward,  S.  A  Hyer,  M.  A.  Love;  fifth  ward,  W. 
L.  Harbison,  J.  F.  Ogilby;  sixth  ward,  J.  A. 
Bowman,  A.  G.  Larson;  seventh  ward,  R.  G. 
McEvoy,  E.  C.  Dunn;  City  Clerk,  H.  C.  Scovill; 
City  Attorney,  M.  M.  Corbett;  City  Treasurer, 
P.  F.  Schuster;  Police  Marshal  A.  E.  Bargren; 
Fire  Marshal,  Edward  Heffran;  Police  Magis- 
trate, L.  L.  Morrison. 


RESIDENCE  OF  P.  BYRON  THOMAS 


T.  J.  Derwent,  F.  E.  Sterling;  fourth  ward,  M. 
A.  Love,'  S.  A.  Hyer;  fifth  ward,  John  Lindsay, 
W.  L.  Harbison;  sixth  ward,  J.  M.  Turner,  J. 
A.  Bowman;  seventh  ward,  E.  C.  Dunn  R.  G. 
McEvoy;  City  Clerk,  H.  C.  Scovill;  City  Attor- 
ney, M.  M.  Corbett;  City  Treasurer,  P.  F. 
Schuster;  Police  Marshal,  A.  E.  Bargren;  Fire 
Marshal,  Edward  Heffran;  Police  Magistrate, 
L.  L.  Morrison. 

1898.     Mayor,    E.   W.  Brown;    Aldermen, 
first  ward,  R.  A.  Shepherd,  J.  A.  Nash;  second 


1899.  Mayor,  E.  W.  Brown;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  J.  A.  Nash,  R.  A.  Shepherd;  second 
ward,  F.  E.  Pearson,  Wm.  Johnson;  third  ward, 
H.  J.  Gallagher,  F.  E.  Sterling;  fourth  ward, 
M.  A.  Love,  W.  C.  Butterworth;  fifth  ward,  J. 
F.  Ogilby,  W.  L.  Harbison;  sixth  ward.  A.  G. 
Larson,  Nels  Olson;  seventh  ward,  E.  C.  Dunn. 
J.  M.  Clarke;  City  Clerk.  H.  C.  Scovill;  City 
Attorney,  M.  M.  Corbett;  City  Treasurer,  F.  F. 
Wormwood;  Corporation  Counsel,  R.  G.  Mc- 
Evoy; Police  Marshal,  A.  E  Bargren;  Fire 


ROCKFORD 


35 


Marshal,    Edward  Heffran;    Police  Magistrate, 
L.  L.  Morrison. 

1900.  Mayor,    E.  W.   Brown;    Aldermen, 
first  ward,  R.  A.  Shepherd,  J.  A.  Nash;  second 
ward,  Wm.  Johnson,  F.  E.  Pearson;  third  ward, 
F.  E.  Sterling,  E.  F.  Pendergast;   fourth  ward. 
W.  C.  Butterworth,  M.  A.  Love;  fifth  ward,  W. 
L.  Harbison,  J.   F.  Ogilby;    sixth  ward,  Nels 
Olson,    A.  G.  Johnson;    seventh  ward,    J.  M. 
Clarke,  E.  C.  Dunn;  City  Clerk,  H.  C.  Scovill; 
City  Attorney,  M.  M.  Corbett;    City  Treasurer, 
F.  F.  Wormwood;    Corporation  Counsel,  R.  G. 
McEvoy;  Police  Marshal,  A.  E.  Bargren;    Fire 
Marshal,  Edward  Heffran;     Police  Magistrate. 
L.  L.  Morrison. 

1901.  Mayor,  Amasa  Hutchins;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  John  A.  Nash,  Charles  E.  Jackson; 
second   ward,    F.   E.   Pearson,    Wm.  Johnson; 
third  ward,  E.   F.   Pendergast,    F.  E.  Sterling; 
fourth  ward,    M.  A.   Love,  W.  C.  Butterworth; 
fifth  ward,  J.  F.  Ogilby,  A.  E.  Crowell;    sixth 
ward,  A.  G.  Johnson,  Nels  Olson;  seventh  ward, 
E.  C.  Dunn,  J.  M.  Clarke;    City  Clerk,   H.  C. 
Scovill;    City  Attorney,  C.  O.  Carbaugh;    City 
Treasurer,  Norman  F.  Thompson;    Corporation 
Counsel,  George  M.  Blake;     Police  Marshal,  A. 

E.  Bargren;     Fire    Marshal,    F.    E.  Thomas; 
Police  Magistrate,  L.  L.  Morrison. 

1902.  Mayor,  Amasa  Hutchins;  Aldermen, 
first  ward,  Charles  E.  Jackson,  F.  B.  McKenney; 
second   ward,   Wm.  Johnson,    F.   E.   Pearson; 
third  ward,  F.  E.  Sterling,  J.  H.  O'Garr;  fourth 
ward,  W.  C.  Butterworth,  W.  M.  Kimball;  fifth 
ward,  A.  E.  Crowell,  J.  F.  Ogilby;    sixth  ward, 
Nels  Olson,  G.  A.  Johnson;  seventh  ward,  J.  M. 
Clarke,  Robert  Lathrop;  City  Clerk,  H.  C.  Sco- 
vill;    City    Attorney,    C.    O.    Carbaugh;    City 
Treasurer,  Norman  F.  Thompson;    Corporation 
Counsel,  R.  K.  Welsh;    Police  Marshal,  A.   E. 
Bargren;    Fire  Marshal,  F.  E.  Thomas;    Police 
Magistrate,  L.  L.  Morrison. 

1903.  Mayor,  Charles  E.  Jackson;    Alder- 
men first  ward,    C.   H.  Woolsey,    Gust  Holm, 
Charles   J.    Lundberg;     second   ward,    F.    E. 
Pearson,    A.  J.  Anderson,    Nels    Olson;    third 
ward,  Wm.  Johnson,  F.  J.  Leonard,  W.  C.  But- 
terworth;   fourth  ward,  John  M.  Clarke,  Robert 
Lathrop,  W.  M.   Kimball;    fifth  ward,  Edward 

F.  Carty,  H.   D.  Ticknor,  J.   F.  Ogilby;    City 


Clerk,  H.  C.  Scovill;  City  Attorney,  L.  M. 
Reckhow;  City  Treasurer,  W.  F.  Woodruff; 
Corporation  Counsel,  C.  W.  Ferguson;  Police 
Marshal,  A.  E.  Bargren;  Fire  Marshal,  F.  E. 
Thomas;  Police  Magistrate,  L.  L.  Morrison. 

GROWTH  OF  THE   CITY. 

The  early  history  of  a  community  must  of 
necessity  treat  largely  of  its  individual  citizen- 
ship and  the  origin  of  its  private  and  public 
institutions,  but  as  the  number  of  inhabitants 
becomes  larger,  the  individual  is  lost  in  the 
masses,  and  the  trend  of  history  relates  more 
especially  to  public  events  and  concrete  devel- 
opment. Public  leaders  and  promoters  of 
municipal  upbuilding  may  be  mentioned  in 
connection  with  current  events,  but  otherwise 
individualism  ceases. 

This  is  true  in  the  history  of  Rockford.  Its 
pioneers  struggled  to  maintain  an  existence  and 
to  establish  a  nucleus  from  which  there  might 
develop  a  beautiful  city.  Much  of  the  beauty 
and  substantial  progress  of  Rockford  is  due  to 
the  wise  and  determined  efforts  of  its  founders. 
The  seven  years  war  that  was  successfully 
fought  out  in  the  location  of  the  county  seat, 
doubtless  brought  beneficent  results  that  have 
constituted  an  important  factor  in  the  city's 
destiny.  It  may  be  true  that  Germanicus  Kent, 
Thatcher  Blake  and  Daniel  S.  Haight,  together 
with  their  colaborers,  "builded  wiser  than  they 
knew,"  but,  however  this  may  be,  it  is  evident 
that  the  foundation  work  was  well  done  and  the 
superstructure  is  a  thing  of  beauty. 

In  the  remaining  pages  of  the  general  history 
of  Rockford,  only  those  individuals  whose  lives 
were  closely  identified  with  the  growth  and 
development  of  the  city,  will  receive  special 
mention. 

James  Madison  Wight  was  born  in  Norwich, 
Massachusetts,  in  1810,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Queens  county,  New  York,  in  1837. 
He  then  came  west  and  located  in  Rockton,  but 
soon  removed  to  Rockford  where  he  remained. 
He  enjoyed  a  large  law  practice  and  was  an 
able  and  conscientious  advocate.  He  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  state  legislature  and 
served  on  the  judiciary  committee.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of 


ROCKFORD 


1870,  called  to  draft  a  new  constitution.  He 
was  city  attorney  in  1 857 

Mr.  Wight  died  in  1877,  after  living  a  long 

life  of  kindly  helpfulness  to  his  fellow  men.  His 

name  is  perpetuated  in  the  Wight  school.  Mrs. 

Harriot   Wight    Sherratt    is   a    daughter,  and 
resides  in  the  city. 

Jason  Marsh  was  born  in  Woodstock, 
Windsor  county,  Vermont,  in  1807,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1831.  In  1832  he 


gave  him  so  much  trouble  that  he  resigned  and 
returned  to  his  home.  In  1867  he  was  elected 
city  clerk  and  served  for  nine  consecutive  years. 
Colonel  Marsh  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter 
in  Chicago,  March  13,  1881. 

Francis  Burnap  was  born  in  Merrimac,  New 
Hampshire,  January  4.  1796,  and  came  to 
Rockford  in  1839.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  pro- 
fession and  practiced  with  brilliant  success  in 
the  state  and  federal  courts.  His  ancestors 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.   E.  C.   DUNN 


married  Harriet  M.  Spafford.  a  sister  of  John 
and  Catlin  Spafford.  He  came  to  Rockford  in 
1839,  where  he  practiced  his  profession.  He 
represented  the  second  ward  as  an  alderman  in 
1854  and  1855.  Mr.  Marsh  entered  the  mili- 
tary service  as  colonel  of  the  seventy-fourth 
Illinois  infantry  in  1862.  He  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  and 
returned  home  in  1863,  but  two  months  later  he 
rejoined  his  regiment  at  the  front.  In  the  cam- 
paign from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  his  wounds 


were  noted  in  history.  His  mother  was  a  sister 
of  Major-General  Brooks  of  Revolutionary  fame 
and  who  was  afterward  governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts for  seven  terms.  His  father.  Rev. 
Jacob  Burnap,  was  pastor  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational church  of  Merrimac  for  fifty  years. 
Mr.  Burnap  was  never  married.  He  died  in 
Rockford  December  2,  1866. 

Duncan  Ferguson  was  a  native  of  Scotland 
and  was  born  in  1810.  He  was  a  student  at 
the  University  of  Glasgow  two  years;  was 


ROCKFORD 


37 


employed  several  years  in  land  surveys,  and 
then  engaged  in  the  trigonometrical  surveys  of 
Great  Britain,  which  he  continued  for  ten  years. 
In  1837  he  came  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania  where  he  remained  two 
years,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Rockford  in  1839.  In  1840  he  was  elected 
surveyor  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  held  the 


act  of  the  legislature  for  the  improvement  of 
Rock  river.  His  life  work  was  an  integral  part 
of  the  growth  of  the  city.  He  died  May  13, 
1882. 

Thomas  D.  Robertson  was  born  in  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  March  4,  1818.  His  parents 
removed  to  London  when  he  was  but  a  young 
child.  He  lived  with  a  brother  for  a  time,  on 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.   D.  WATERMAN 


office  of  surveyor  until  1856.  In  1862  he  was 
appointed  internal  revenue  assessor,  which  office 
he  held  eight  years.  For  ten  years  he  was 
supervisor  from  the  seventh  ward.  On  March 
3,  1873,  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  and  held  this  honored  position 
until  1881.  In  1877  he  was  elected  mayor  of 
Rockford  and  served  one  year.  He  held  the 
offices  of  city  engineer,  assessor,  county  treas- 
urer, and  commissioner  of  the  county  under  an 


the  Isle  of  Shippey  at  the  mouth  of  the  Thames, 
where  he  attended  school.  He  subsequently 
joined  his  brother  in  the  publication  of  the 
Mechanics  Magazine.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1838,  and  after  a  brief  stay  in 
Chicago,  came  to  Rockford  the  same  year. 
He  studied  law  in  Rockford  and  in  Madison, 
Wisconsin,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
practiced  his  profession  successfully  for  several 
years.  In  1848  Mr.  Robertson  and  John  A. 


ROC  KFORD 


Holland  established  the  first  banking  house  in 
Rockford.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Holland, 
Mr.  Coleman  joined  Mr.  Robertson  in  the 
banking  business.  Mr.  Coleman  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Starr,  Robertson  &  Starr  were  suc- 
ceeded by  The  Winnebago  National  Bank,  which 
is  now  one  of  the  leading  banking  institutions  of 
the  city. 

Hon.  Edward  H.  Baker  was  born  in  Ferris- 
burg,  Vermont,  April  5,  1828,  and  came  to 
Rockford  with  his  father,  Ira  W.  Baker,  in 
1838.  He  was  educated  at  Knox  college  and 
Illinois  college  at  Jacksonville.  He  practiced 
law  with  his  father-in-law,  Jason  Marsh.  He 
was  made  secretary  of  the  Rockford  &  Kenosha 
Railway  Company  and  was  elected  mayor  of 
the  city  in  1 866  and  served  one  year.  Mr.  Baker 
was  an  authority  on  Masonic  matters,  and' 
highly  esteemed.  He  died  January  26.  1899. 

David  S.  Penfield  was  born  in  Pittsfield, 
Vermont,  in  1812,  and  came  to  Rockford  in 
1 838.  He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
with  Shepherd  Leach,  and  also  carried  on  a 
real  estate  business  with  his  brother,  John  G., 
and  later  became  a  member  of  the  banking  firm 
of  Briggs,  Spafford  &  Penfield,  which  was 
merged  into  the  Third  National  Bank.  He 
died  May  20,  1873.  Mrs.  Penfield  donated  the 
site  to  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
where  its  beautiful  building  now  stands. 

Shepherd  Leach  came  to  Rockford  in  1838, 
and  acquired  a  large  amount  of  landed  property. 
He  was  highly  respected,  and  was  a  successful 
business  man.  He  died  July  9,  1885.  Mrs. 
Edgar  E.  Bartlett  and  Mrs.  J.  B.  Whitehead 
are  daughters. 

Willard  Wheeler  came  from  Upper  Canada 
in  1839,  and  was  the  second  tinner  in  the  town. 
He  had  the  honor  of  being  Rockford's  first 
mayor,  in  which  capacity  he  served  one  year. 
He  died  April  24,  1876. 

Samuel,  William,  Benjamin  Franklin  and 
Isaac  Newton  Cunningham  are  four  brothers 
who  came  to  Rockford  in  1838  and  1839,  and 
are  entitled  to  notice  in  this  work  for  their 
sterling  integrity  and  helpfulness  in  the  upbuilding 
of  the  city. 


Joel  B.  Potter  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
Connecticut,  in  1810,  and  came  to  Rockford  in 
1839.  He  was  one  of  Rockford's  early  drug- 
gists. He  died  November  30,  1880.  Mrs. 
Caroline  A.  Brazee  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Gregory  of 
Rockford,  and  Miss  Frances  D.  Potter  of  Chi- 
cago, are  daughters. 

E.  L.  Herrick  was  born  in  Andover,  Massa- 
chusetts, September  30.  1820,  and  came  to 
Rockford  with  his  father,  Elijah  L.  Herrick,  in 
1 838.  His  wife  was  a  former  teacher  in  Rock- 
ford  college.  A  daughter,  Elizabeth  L.,  it 
professor  of  French  language  and  literature  at 
Rockford  college.  A  son,  Charles  E.,  is  in 
Chicago,  and  another  son,  Frank  J.,  is  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Bedwell  &  Herrick  of  this  city. 

Charles  H.,  Amos  Catlin  and  John  Spafford 
are  three  brothers  whose  history  is  identical 
with  that  of  Rockford  in  its  development  into  a 
city  of  renown.  Charles  H.  held  the  offices  of 
postmaster,  circuit  clerk  and  recorder,  was 
president  of  the  Rockford  &  Kenosha  Railway 
Company.  In  company  with  his  brother  John 
and  John  Hall,  he  built  the  Metropolitan  Hall 
block.  He  also,  with  others,  built  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Chick  House  block.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  banking  house  of  Spafford, 
Clark  &  Ellis,  and  when  the  bank  went  into 
liquidation,  paid  off  the  liabilities,  amounting  to 
$45,000.  He  aided  largely  in  the  founding  of 
Rockford  college.  He  married  Miss  Abby 
Warren  in  1842,  and  had  three  children,  Mrs. 
Carrie  S.  Brett,  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Godfrey  and 
Charles  H.  Spafford,  Jr.  He  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1892. 

Amos  Catlin  Spafford  was  interested  in  a 
sawmill  on  the  water-power.  In  1854  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  Briggs, 
Spafford  &  Penfield.  Upon  the  organization  of 
the  Third  National  Bank  he  became  its  presi- 
dent which  position  he  held  thirty-three  years, 
until  his  death.  Mr.  Spafford  was  one  of  the 
commissioners  at  the  Centennial  Exposition  in 
Philadelphia  in  1876.  He  died  August  22, 
1897.  A  daughter,  Jessie  I.,  is  professor  of 
mathematics  and  physics  at  Rockford  college, 
and  a  son,  George  H.,  is  cashier  of  the  Third 
National  Bank. 


ROCKFORD 


39 


John  Spafford  was  engaged  in  farming,  and 
in  the  grocery,  grain  and  lumber  trade.  In 
1856  he  was  made  the  general  agent  of  the 
Rockford  &  Kenosha  Railway  Company.  He 
was  president  of  the  Rockford  Wire  Work? 
Company,  and  the  Rockford  Suspender  Com- 
pany, and  was  interested  in  other  industrial 
enterprises.  He  died  December  5,  1897. 


William,  Frank,  Charles  and  Julia. 
April   11,1 886. 


He  died 


Laomi  Peake,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Herkimer 
county,  New  York,  and  came  to  Rockford  in 
1839.  Mr.  Peake  brought  about  five  thousand 
dollars  in  cash  with  him,  which  was  a  large  sum 
of  money  in  those  early  days.  He  was  the  first 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS  LEVI.   RHODES 


William  Worthington  was  born  in  Enfield, 
Connecticut,  July  5,  1813,  and  came  to  Rock- 
ford  in  1838.  He  built  a  brick  blacksmith 
shop  and  was  the  second  blacksmith  in  the  city. 
He  afterward  built  a  wagon  shop  which  was  the 
first  institution  of  the  kind  on  the  East  Side.  In 
1842,  in  company  with  Hosea  D.  Searles,  he 
opened  a  drug  store,  which  is  now  known  as  the 
Worthington  &  Slade  store.  His  children  are 


harnessmaker  in  Rockford.  He  built  a  two- 
story  brick  building  on  the  corner  of  First  and 
State  streets,  for  $1,500.  This  lot  is  now 
occupied  by  the  Manufacturers  Bank.  In  1852 
he  built  a  second  block  on  the  same  site, 
which  contained  the  first  public  hall  in  Rockford. 
This  block  was  burned  in  1857.  Mr.  Peake 
had  twelve  children,  one  of  these  being  L. 
Peake  who  now  "has  a  fine  wholesale  harness 


4o 


ROCKFORD 


business   on    West   State  street.      Mr.   Peake 
died  November  8,  1891 ,  aged  eighty  four  years. 

William  Hulin  was  a  native  of  Salem. 
Massachusetts,  and  settled  in  Rockton  in  1838. 
A  spring  on  the  land  he  owned  is  still  known  as 
the  Hulin  spring.  He  came  to  Rockford  in 
the  early  forties,  and  was  elected  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  served  as  clerk  of  the  county 


8,  1819,  and  came  to  Rockford  in  1838.  In 
1866  he  engaged  in  the  shoe  business  in  com- 
pany with  the  late  Daniel  Hill,  but  sold  out. 
He  then  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  loan 
business  with  Duncan  Ferguson.  In  1874  he 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Forest  City 
Insurance  Company  and  served  as  its  treasurer 
several  years.  He  was  an  alderman  from  the 


R.  H.  TINKER'S  SWISS  COTTAGE 


court  for  a  number  of  years  and  resigned  from 
this  office  only  a  few  days  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  December  10.  1869.  Dr. 
Henry  Richings  now  occupies  his  old  home  on 
North  Main  street.  He  was  a  thorough  scholar , 
and  edited  a  work  on  school  law. 

Harris  Barnum,  a  son  of  Daniel  Barnum, 
was  born  in  Danbury,  Connecticut,  September 


sixth  ward  for  four  years,  and   also  served  as  a 
supervisor.     He  died  February  26,  1899. 

Hon.  Horace  Miller  was  born  in  1798,  in 
Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  and  came  to 
Rockford  in  1839.  He  acquired  a  great  deal 
.of  land  near  the  city,  upon  which  he  resided 
until  1861,  when  he  removed  to  Rockford.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  1850  and 


ROCKFORD 


1852.  William  M.  Miller  is  a  son,  and  Mrs. 
Brown,  widow  of  the  late  Judge  Brown,  is  a 
daughter.  He  died  August  5,  1864. 

There  were  many  others  who  were  among 
the  pioneers  and  lent  their  energy  and  aid  in 
the  upbuilding  of  the  Forest  City. 


principal  streets.  The  present  site  of  the 
water- works  plant  was  selected  on  account  of 
the  fact  that  a  spring  of  delicious  water  made 
its  appearance  there. 

A  power  house  was  erected,    engines   and 
pumps  put  in,  and  connections    made    with    a 


WATER  WORKS  PARK 


ROCKFORD    WATER    WORKS. 

In  1875  and  1876,  under  the  administration 
of  Robert  H.  Tinker  and  Lev!  Rhoades,  it 
became  apparent  that  the  best  interests  of  the 
city  demanded  efficient  fire  protection  and  an 
adequate  supply  of  water  for  the  use  of  its 
inhabitants.  After  a  thorough  canvass  of  the 
matter  by  the  council  and  the  community  in 
general,  it  was  determined  to  establish  a  pump- 
ing station  and  to  Jay  pipe  mains  through  the 


well,  sunk  where  the  spring  was  located,  and 
the  river.  The  supply  of  water  from  this 
spring-well  proved  to  be  inadequate,  and  in  1881 
and  1882,  under  Mayor  Crawford's  administra- 
tion, an  effort  was  made  to  increase  this  supply. 
It  was  proposed  to  sink  a  huge  well  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  works  and  near  the  river,  from 
which  it  was  thought  an  adequate  supply  of 
potable  water  could  be  obtained.  Accordingly 
a  well,  fifty  feet  in  diameter  and  thirty  feet  in 
depth,  was  put  down  at  a  cost  of  about  thirty 


ROCKFORD 


thousand  dollars.  This  was  certainly  a  large 
well,  but  its  huge  proportions  were  nothing  when 
compared  to  the  degree  of  disappointment  its 
results  brought  with  it.  Epidemics  of  diseases 
followed  in  its  wake,  the  cause  of  which  was 
traced  to  the  use  of  the  water  from  this  well 
which  proved  to  be  a  veritable  cesspool. 

In  1883  Alfred  Taggart  was  elected  mayor, 
and  to  him  is  due  much  of  the  credit  for  the 
development  of  the  present  superior  water 
system  of  Rockford.  He  planned  for  future 
needs  as  well  as  for  present  necessity,  and 
results  demonstrate  the  wisdom  and  good 
judgment  exercised  for  the  welfare  of  the  city. 
The  possibility  of  obtaining  an  unfailing  supply 
of  pure  artesian  water,  was  to  him  a  reality, 
He  consulted  Professor  Chamberlain,  an  emi- 
nent geologist  and  reliable  authority  on  geological 
matters,  in  regard  to  the  feasibility  of  his  project 
and  was  assured  that  there  was  no  doubt  as  to 
the  success  of  such  an  undertaking.  The  matter 
was  presented  to  the  council  and  favorable 
action  secured. 

A  contract  was  made  with  J.  F.  Gray  of 
Jefferson,  Cook  county,  Illinois,  to  sink  a  six- 
inch  well,  which  when  completed,  gave  a  flow  of 
six  hundred  gallons  per  minute.  The  bore  of 
this  well  was  enlarged  to  eight  inches,  and  it 
then  gave  a  flow  of  eight  hundred  gallons  per 
minute.  The  water  from  this  well  was  turned 
into  the  pumping  pit  in  December,  i885,  and  it 
was  demonstrated  to  have  a  capacity  of  produc- 
ing one  million,  three  hundred  thousand  gallons 
of  water  every  twenty-four  hours. 

This  well  is  denoted  as  number  one  and  is 
1,520  feet  in  depth,  and  takes  water  from  the 
Potsdam  formation.  In  its  descent  it  passes 
through  125  feet  of  drift,  thirty  feet  of  Trenton 
lime  stone,  225  feet  of  St.  Peter's  sand  stone, 
105  feet  lower  magnesia  lime  stone,  and  1,035 
feet  of  different  formations  of  Potsdam  sand 
stone.  An  analysis  of  the  water  was  made  by 
Prof.  Erastus  G.  Smith  of  Beloit  college,  which 
shows  it  to  be  a  superior  potable  water  His 
report  shows  the  water  to  contain  a  very  small 
per  cent  of  sulphates  and  chlorides  of  potassium 
and  sodium,  a  larger  per  cent  of  carbonate  of 
calcium  and  magnesium,  and  very  small  fractions 
of  alumina,  ferric  oxide  and  silica.  Well  num- 


ber one  cost  the  city  $5,401  73.  It  was  then 
determined  to  buy  the  necessary  machinery  and 
put  two  wells  down  under  the  direction  of  the 
city  authorities. 

Two  more  wells  were  commenced  in  1885, 
the  water  from  one  of  which  was  turned  into  the 
pumping  pit  that  year.  At  the  end  of  the  fiscal 
year  1886,  four  wells  had  been  sunk  and  the 
water  turned  into  the  pumping  pit.  At  the  end 
of  the  year  1888  five  wells  had  been  completed. 

Well  number  one  is  1 ,530  feet  deep  and 
cost  $5,40 1 .73.  Number  two  is  !  ,320  feet  deep 
and  cost  $3362.35.  Number  three  is  2,000  feet 
deep  and  cost  $4,257.84.  Number  four  is  1,300 
feet  deep  and  cost  $2,151.49.  Number  five  is 
1 ,379  feet  deep  and  cost  $2,638.81.  Conduit 
and  suction  cost  $6,42.438 

In  1897  a  plan  for  increasing  the  water 
supply  was  devised  by  D.  W.  Mead,  which  was 
accepted  by  the  council.  The  plan  was  to  sink 
a  shaft  eighty  feet  in  depth  and  twelve  feet  in 
diameter  and  to  connect  the  wells  thought  de- 
sirable by  the  contractor,  or  to  sink  new  ones, 
by  tunnels  from  the  bottom  of  this  shaft,  for 
which  he  was  to  receive  $52,000.00.  For  this 
the  contractor  guaranteed  a  flow  of  not  less  than 
5,500,000  gallons  of  water  daily.  A  provision 
in  the  contract  allowed  Mr.  Mead  a  bonus  of 
$2,500  if  the  supply  of  water  reached  a  daily 
capacity  of  7,000,000  gallons  of  water.  A  later 
contract  provided  for  a  tunnel  connection  with 
well  number  two,  for  the  additional  sum  of 
$3,721.  After  vexatious  delays  and  the  sur- 
mounting of  unlocked  for  difficulties,  the  work 
was  completed  in  1898.  Three  tests  were 
made  as  to  the  capacity  of  the  new  system, 
which  were  deemed  satisfactory,  and  Mr.  Mead 
was  awarded  the  entire  sum  stipulated  in  the 
several  contracts,  which  aggregated  $58,221. 

ROCKFORD  PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

Before  the  establishment  of  the  present 
splendid  library  to  which  the  people  of  Rockford 
have  had  free  recourse  for  a  number  of  years, 
several  unsuccessful  attempts  were  made  to 
provide  the  people  with  desirable  literature,  by 
individual  enterprise. 

As  early  as  1852  the  matter  of  establishing 
a  public  library  was  taken  up  and  received 


ROCKFORD 


43 


strong  support,  especially  by  a  temperance 
organization  known  as  the  Sinnissippi  Division 
Number  134,  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  of 
Rockford.  It  surrendered  its  charter  as  a 
temperance  organization  and  proposed  to  reor- 
ganize as  a  library  association,  but  the  effort 
never  materialized. 

The    Young    Men's   Association    made   an 
effort  in  1855  to  secure  the  books  belonging  to 


dollars  were  paid  per  share  upon  the  formation 
of  the  company,  and  the  balance  in  installments. 
In  the  fall  of  1858  it  appeared  that  six  thousand 
dollars  of  this  stock  had  been  subscribed  for,  and 
on  October  14,  of  that  year,  the  organization 
was  completed.  James  M.  Wight,  Seeley 
Perry,  Selden  M.  Church,  Elias  Cosper  and 
Thomas  D.  Robertson  were  elected  trustees. 
F.  M.  Bradley  was  appointed  librarian.  Library 


GOVERNMENT  BUILDING 


the  Temperance  organization,  and  to  establish  a 
library  and  reading  room,  but  this  effort  was 
not  successful. 

In  1857  a  well  organized  effort  was  made 
by  several  public  spirited  citizens,  to  establish  a 
public  library.  A  stock  company  was  incorpor- 
ated under  the  general  laws  of  the  state,  and 
stock  at  fifty  dollars  per  share  was  issued.  Ten 


rooms  were  secured  over  Robertson,  Coleman 
&  Company's  bank.  About  one  thousand  excel- 
lent books  were  purchased  and  subscriptions 
placed  for  a  number  of  papers  and  magazines. 
During  the  next  two  years  additions  of  books 
were  made  to  the  number  of  several  hundred. 
The  library  was  liberally  patronized  for  several 
years,  but  when  the  Civil  war  came  on,  public 


I       _^__— - 


44 


ROCKFORD 


thought  was  turned  to  other  and  more  stirring 
scenes  and  the  library  was  largely  neglected. 
This  occasioned  the  suspension  of  the  operation 
of  the  library  and  the  final  sale  of  the  books  at 
public  auction,  and  the  windup  of  the  company's 
business  in  1865.  Hon.  Robert  H.  Tinker  has 
several  of  these  books  in  his  private  library  and 
others  are  in  the  present  public  library. 

No  further  effort  was  made  to  establish  a 
public  library  until  after  the  enactment  of  a  law 
by  the  legislature  in  1872,  providing  for  the 
support  of  public  libraries  by  taxation. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1872  a  petition  to  the 
city  council  was  circulated  and  numerously 
signed  by  the  citizens  of  Rockford,  asking 
recognition  of  an  act  passed  by  the  state  legisla- 
ture and  made  effective  March  7,  1872,  granting 
the  right  to  cities,  incorporated  towns  and 
townships,  to  establish  and  maintain  public 
libraries  and  reading  rooms,  by  voting  a  tax  for 
this  purpose. 

The  petition  was  received  and  favorably 
acted  upon  by  an  ordinance  passed  by  the 
council  and  approved  June  17,  1872.  The  ordi- 
nance provided  that  no  indebtedness  or  liability 
should  be  incurred  against  the  city  until  after 
March  1,  1873. 

To  expedite  matters  Mayor  Bronson,  upon 
the  adoption  of  the  ordinance  authorizing  the 
establishment  of  a  public  library  and  readingroom 
in  the  city  of  Rockford,  nominated  the  following 
persons  to  constitute  the  first  board  of  directors; 
Melancthon  Starr,  Elias  Cosper,  S.  C.  Withrow, 
D.  S.  Clark,  Rev.  Frank  P.  Woodbury,  Rev. 
Henry  C.  Mabie,  N.  C.  Thompson,  James  G. 
Knapp  and  Charles  L.  Williams,  which  nomina- 
tions were  promptly  confirmed  by  the  council. 

June  24,  1872,  the  library  board  of  directors 
held  its  first  meeting  in  the  council  rooms  and 
organized  by  electing  N.  C.  Thompson,  pres- 
ident. Rev.  Frank  P.  Woodbury,  vice-president, 
and  Elias  Cosper,  secretary.  A  resolution  was 
adopted  at  this  meeting,  by  which  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  prepare  an  address  to  the 
people  of  the  city,  calling  for  voluntary  financial 
aid  with  which  to  proceed  at  once  in  the  work 
of  establishing  a  public  library.  The  address 
proposed  that  from  $5,000  to  $10,000  be 
subscribed. 


A  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  select 
quarters  for  the  library,  and  three  rooms  in  the 
northwest  corner,  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
Wallach  block,  were  secured  at  a  rental  of  $350 
per  year,  the  lease  to  take  effect  the  first  day  of 
July,  1872. 

July  30,  1872,  a  public  reception  was  held 
in  the  library  rooms  which  had  been  nicely 
refinished  for  the  reception  of  the  library.  Upon 
the  above  date  Miss  Mary  E.  Rankin  was  ap- 
pointed temporary  librarian  by  the  board  of 
directors. 

September  9,  1872,  the  first  rules  and  by- 
laws for  the  management  and  control  of  the 
library  were  adopted  by  the  board  of  directors. 
September  2,  1872,  Thomas  M.  Martin  was 
appointed  librarian  at  a  salary  of  $450  per  year, 
but  declined  the  appointment,  and  at  the  next 
meeting  of  the  board,  September  9.  1872,  W, 
L.  Rowland  was  appointed  librarian  at  a  salary 
of  forty  dollars  a  month,  which  was  accepted. 

June  1,  1873,  the  soliciting  committee  for 
the  library  fund  reported  the  collection  of 
$3,933.1  1,  which  was  used  for  the  purchase  of 
books,  the  payment  of  rent  and  current  expenses. 

The  rooms  in  the  Wallach  block  soon  proved 
to  be  inadequate  for  the  needs  of  the  library  and 
more  suitable  quarters  were  sought  after.  The 
committee  appointed  for  this  purpose  succeeded 
in  securing  a  ten  year  lease  for  the  second  floor 
of  the  old  postoffice  block,  at  the  west  end  of 
the  bridge,  of  Messrs.  Church,  Robertson  and 
Emerson,  to  be  in  effect  July  1,  1876,  at  a 
rental  of  $500  per  year.  The  expenditure  of 
considerable  money  was  necessary  for  the  refit- 
ting and  furnishing  of  these  new  quarters.  The 
library  was  closed  June  28,  1876,  for  the  purpose 
of  removal  to  its  new  quarters,  and  was  reopened 
to  the  public  early  in  July,  since  which  time  it 
has  been  open  every  day  in  the  year. 

At  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year,  1872,  the 
library  contained  2,815  volumes,  about  one  half 
of  which  were  donated,  and  had  cost  $1,773.1 1 

Since  1896  the  rental  of  the  library  rooms 
has  been  $900  per  year. 

One  of  the  most  notable  events  in  the  history 
of  the  Rockford  Public  Library,  is  the  munifi- 
cent gift  of  $70,000  by  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  of 


ROCKFORD 


45 


New  York,  who  has  proved  himself  to  be  the 
greatest  library  builder  the  world  has  ever  seen. 
The  library  board,  through  one  of  its 
members.  Prof.  O.  F.  Barbour,  opened  corres- 
pondence with  Mr.  Carnegie  in  October,  1899, 
soliciting  his  interest  in  making  provision  for  a 
suitable  library  building  in  Rockford.  This  cor- 
respondence resulted  in  the  receipt  of  a  letter 


far  as  the  maintenance  of  the  library  was  con- 
cerned, and  to  provide  funds  for  the  purchase  of 
a  site  as  soon  as  they  could  be  made  available. 
Public  spirit  and  civic  pride  at  once  mani- 
fested itself  and  steps  were  promptly  taken  to 
secure  a  suitable  site  for  the  library  building. 
A  spirit  of  strong  rivalry  between  the  East  and 
West  sides  of  the  river  soon  developed  as  to 


RESIDENCE  OF   RALPH   EMERSON 


from  Mr.  Carnegie,  under  date  of  March  6, 
1901,  proposing  to  give  $60,000  with  which  to 
erect  a  building,  provided  that  the  city  furnish  a 
suitable  site  and  agree  to  maintain  the  library 
at  a  cost  of  not  less  than  $8,000  a  year. 

March  11,  1901,  the  city  council  passed  a 
resolution  accepting  the  gift  of  Mr.  Carnegie 
and  complying  with  the  conditions  imposed,  so 


which  side  should  secure  the  location.  Various 
sites  were  proposed,  among  which  were  what 
were  designated  as  the  Gas  site,  the  Gill  site, 
the  Rood  site  and  the  O'Connor  site.  The  Gas 
site  was  purchased  by  subscription  for  $  1  1 ,000, 
and  offered  to  the  council  as  a  free  site. 

After  much  acrimonious  and  bitter  conten- 
tion between  the  people  on  opposite  sides  of  the 


ROCKFORO 


river,  the  Gas  site,  on  the  West  side,  was 
accepted  by  the  council  January  13,  1902. 

Bradley  &  Carpenter,  Rockford  architects, 
provided  the  plans  for  the  building  and  the  con- 
tract for  its  construction  was  let  to  W.  H.  Cook, 
a  prominent  Rockford  contractor.  Work  on 
the  building  was  vigorously  prosecuted  during 
the  season  of  1902.  The  structure  is  an  im- 
posing edifice,  of  classical  architecture,  and 
would  be  recognized  as  a  library  building  by  a 
passing  stranger. 

The  library  proper  is  on  the  main  floor,  the 
book  stacks  and  fixtures,  of  which,  are  made  of 
rolled  steel.  The  stacks  are  two  stories  in 
height,  with  glass  floor  between.  Two  large 
reading  rooms  are  also  on  the  main  floor;  be- 
side the  librarian's  office,  study  rooms  and  ref- 
erence library.  In  the  basement  is  the  child- 
ren'slibrary,  where  duplicate  books  of  the  school 
circulating  libraries  will  be  kept.  On  the  upper 
floor  is  the  director's  room,  art  room,  lecture 
room  and  newspaper  room.  Besides  these 
designated  rooms  are  others  that  will  be  utilized 
for  various  purposes. 

The  grounds  join  River  park  on  the  east 
and  those  of  Memorial  Hall  on  the  west,  con- 
stituting, with  them,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  artistic  landscapes  and  waterscapes,  together 
with  architectural  scenery,  imaginable. 

It  became  apparent  that  the  original  bequest 
of  $60,000.00  would  not  complete,' and  beautify 
the  building  as  desired,  and  Mayor  Hutchins, 
through  private  correspondence  with  Mr.  Car- 
negie, secured  a  further  donation  of  $10,000.00, 
March,  1903. 

The  total  cost  of  the  building  and  grounds 
is  $81 ,000.00.  The  library  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  the  state  and  one  of  which  the  people  of 
Rockford  are  very  proud.  Its  establishment  is 
the  outgrowth  of  years  of  effort,  sacrifice  and 
perseverance.  Mr.  Carnegie  recognized  the 
efforts  of  Rockford  to  establish  a  public  library 
as  being  meritorious  and  was  willing  to  supple- 
ment them  by  the  donation  of  a  large  sum  of 
money.  At  the  beginning  of  1903,  the  library 
contained  39,000  volumes  which  found  a  place 
in  the  new  library  building.  The  total  expendi- 
ture of  money  in  books,  periodicals,  papers  and 
maintenance  since  the  founding  of  the  institu- 


tion is  $156,528.36.  The  library  property  as 
it  now  stands  represents  an  investment  of 
$237,528.36. 

William  Leonard  Rowland,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  office  of  librarian.  September  9, 
1872,  held  the  position  continuously  for  twenty- 
eight  years,  giving  the  better  part  of  his  life 
work  to  the  upbuilding  and  success  of  the  Rock- 
ford  Public  Library.  His  death  occurred  Sep- 
tember 27,  1900,  and  his  loss  to  the  institution 
is  keenly  felt.  The  death  of  Mr.  Rowland  and 
the  munificent  gift  of  Mr.  Carnegie  are  nearly 
contemporaneous  and  the  names  of  each  will  be 
treasured  in  the  years  to  come  as  benefactors  to 
the  race. 

Miss  Jennie  P.  Hubbell  succeeded  Mr. 
Rowland  as  librarian,  which  position  she  now 
fills  with  gratifying  success. 

ROCKFORD  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

One  of  the  most  important  municipal  depart- 
ments of  the  city  is  that  for  its  fire  protection. 
In  its  earlier  history  the  city  was  dependent  up- 
on a  volunteer  service  for  this  protection,  and 
upon  primitive  apparatus  in  the  matter  of  appli- 
ances. The  department  was  organized  under 
the  direction  and  control  of  the  city  authorities, 
and  the  officers  were  elected  by  the  members  of 
the  organization.  A  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  also  adopted  by  the  organization.  Mem- 
bers were  initiated  upon  the  payment  of  a  fee 
and  were  subject  to  a  fine  for  the  infraction  of 
the  rules  adopted.  A  chief  and  assistant  engi- 
neers were  elected,  who  held  these  offices  for 
one  year.  The  volunteer  service  was  organized 
in  1855,  with  Edward  F.  W.  Ellis  as  chief  engi- 
neer. During  the  years  following  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  the  paid  department  in  1880, 
the  following  persons  served  as  chief  engineers: 
Samuel  I.  Church,  one  year;  M.  A.  Bartlett.one 
year;  Howard  D.  Frost,  three  years;  A.  G. 
Springsteen,  two  years;  Gordon  S.  Allen,  one 
year;  Calvin  Ford,  one  year;  Charles  S.  Jeller- 
son,  one  year;  S.  A.  Granger,  one  year; 
James  F.  Hough,  nine  years;  James  Chalmers, 
one  year;  John  T.  Lakin.  two  years;  and  Charles 
Cavanaugh,  one  year. 

During  the  first  few  years,  the  department 
depended  upon  four  diminutive  engines  with 


ROCKFORD 


47 


which  to  battle  with  the  fire  monster.  Its  water 
supply  was  obtained  from  the  creek,  river  and 
wells.  Later  on,  these  pony  engines  were  dis- 
posed of  and  three  hand  engines  of  a  larger 
type  were  obtained.  For  an  increased  water 
supply,  a  large  cistern  was  put  in  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  court  house  square,  which  is 


were  assistant  engineers.  There  were  five  hose 
companies  and  one  hook  and  ladder  company 
with  a  total  of  114  men.  The  apparatus  con- 
sisted of  one  hand  engine,  three  hose  carts,  one 
hook  and  ladder  truck,  forty-two  hundred  feet  of 
hose,  a  little  miscellaneous  paraphernalia,  and 
five  hose  carts  owned  by  citizens. 


SEVENTH  STREET 


still  there.  Another  cistern  was  put  in  on  the 
East  side  on  Second  street.  This  has  been  filled 
up.  These  cisterns  were  filled  by  pumping  water 
from  the  river  and  were  used  until  the  install- 
ment of  the  water  works  in  1875-6.  A  report 
of  1880  shows  that  the  fire  department's  total 
expense  to  the  city  was  $1 ,845.93,  and  the  prop- 
erty owned  by  the  city  in  this  department,  was 
valued  at  $13,760.00.  J.  F.  Hough  was  chief 
engineer,  and  W.  B.  Wood  and  Wm.  Holmes 


In  1880,  under  Mayor  Wilkins'  administra- 
tion, it  was  proposed  to  organize  a  paid  fire 
department,  which  proposition  was  accomplished 
in  1881 ,  under  Mayor  Crawford's  administration. 
John  T  Lakin  was  appointed  fire  marshal,  and 
Thomas  W.  Griffin  assistant.  In  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  department,  hook  and  ladder  com- 
pany, East  side  had  three  men;  hose  company, 
West  side,  had  seven  men;  hose  company, 
South  side,  had  six  men;  and  hose  company, 


ROCKFORD 


East  side,  had  four  men;  making  a  total  of 
nineteen  paid  men.  Besides  these  there  were 
a  number  of  auxiliary  or  call  men,  connected 
with  each  station.  The  total  expense  of  the 
department  for  the  year  was  $3,982.24. 

From  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  paid 
fire  department,  the  city  has  gradually  increased 
the  efficiency  of  its  system  of  fire  protection 


$13,457.71;  No.  3,  at  $14,481.06;  No.  4,  at 
$14,392.73;  and  the  equipment  of  No.  5,  at 
$2,141.30;  making  a  total  value  of  real  estate 
and  equipment  of  $72,559.69.  The  force  in 
1902,  numbered  twenty-nine  men  and  their 
salaries  amounted  to  $19,850.93. 

The   total    expense  of  maintenance  of  the 
department   was    $28,634.14.       This  sum  in- 


A  GROUP  OF  ROCKFORD  RESIDENCES 


by  the  addition  of  improved  appliances.  A 
steam  fire  engine  was  purchased  in  1890,  at  a 
cost  of  $3,100.00.  The  second  steam  fire 
engine  was  purchased  in  1892,  at  a  cost  of 
$4,350.00.  The  third -steam  fire  engine  was 
added  to  the  equipment  in  1895,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,780,00.  The  city  has  acquired  the  ownership 
of  four  of  its  five  fire  stations  Station  No.  1 ,  with 
its  equipment  is  valued  $18,416.39;  No.  2,  at 


eludes  the  establishment  of  station  No.  5.  Since 
the  beginning  of  1903,  five  men  have  been 
added  to  the  fores  making  a  total  number  of 
thirty-four. 

Frank  E.  Thomas  is  the  present  fire  mar- 
shal and  S.  T.  Julian  the  assistant.  Many  of 
the  members  of  the  department  have  had  years 
of  experience  and  are  faithful  to  duty  and  pains- 
taking in  their  work.  It  is  not  assuming  too 


ROCKFORD 


49 


much  to  say  that  the  Rockford  fire  department 
is  one  of  the  most  efficient,  well  disciplined 
and  reliable  organizations  for  this  purpose  in 
the  country.  It  is  a  credit  to  the  city  and  its 
efficiency  adds  largely  to  real  estate  values  on 
account  of  the  protection  it  affords,  The  city 
has  expended  since  1880,  $408.268.98  in  the 
equipment  and  maintenance  of  its  fire  depart- 
ment. If  the  exact  figures  could  be  obtained 
for  the  previous  years  the  total  sum  would  reach 
nearly  half  a  million  of  dollars  that  has  been 
expended  by  the  city  for  its  fire  protection. 

ROCKFORD   POLICE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  Rockford  Police  Department  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  country.  It  is  a  model  in  its  dis- 
cipline and  its  personnel — from  chief  to  patrol- 
men, its  membership  is  made  up  of  intelligent 
representative  men,  who  take  great  pride  in 
maintaining  the  enviable  reputation  of  the  city 
for  its  good  order,  progress  and  refinement. 
Rockford  is  on  the  list  of  crooks  and  law- 
breakers as  being  a  good  place  to  keep  away 
from.  Every  man  on  the  force  is  a  good  detec- 
tive and  is  always  alert  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties.  The  character  of  the  police  force  is 
such  as  to  prevent  the  commission  of  crime  in 
Rockford  in  a  very  large  degree. 

The  establishment  of  the  police  force  in 
Rockford  is  co-existent  with  its  history  as  a  vil- 
lage, when  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the 
municipality  was  placed  in  the  keeping  of  one 
man,  designated  as  police  constable  and  when 
the  town  acquired  the  distinction  of  being  a  city, 
its  peace  officer  was  known  as  the  police  mar- 
shal. John  Platt  had  the  honor  of  first  serving 
in  this  capacity,  being  appointed  to  this  office  in 
1 852,  and  served  one  year.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Willard  Wheeler  in  1853,  who  also  served 
one  year.  In  1854,  John  Travis  was  appointed 
and  served  one  year.  He  was  succeeded  by 
James  Dame,  who  also  served  one  year.  In 
1856,  Ira  Barker  was  appointed  and  served  one 
year.  He  was  succeeded  by  W.  P.  Dennis  and 
J.  E.  Langdon,  who  filled  this  office  in  1857.  In 
1858,  E.  C.  Roberts  filled  this  office.  In  1859 
two  different  marshals  again  did  duty.  These 
were  M.  J.  Upright,  who  was  afterward  elected 
sheriff  of  the  county  to  fill  the  vacancy  occa- 


sioned by  the  death  of  Sheriff  John  F.  Taylor, 
who  was  killed  by  Alfred  Countryman,  Nov.  1 1 , 
1856,  and  M.  H.  Regan.  In  1860,  A.  J.  Pen- 
nock  filled  this  office.  Ambrose  Halstead  was 
appointed  in  1861,  and  served  two  years.  In 
1863,  three  different  persons  filled  the  office, 
These  were  John  Fisher.  M.  J.  Upright  and 
Jeremiah  Mosher.  In  1864,  the  office  was 
filled  by  G.  V.  Carr  and  James  Dame;  James 
Dame  continued  through  1865.  In  1866, 
Thomas  Sully  was  appointed  and  served  con- 
tinuously fourteen  years.  In  1880,  P.  A.  Coon- 
radt  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Wilkins,  and  served 
one  year.  In  1881,  Thomas  Sully  was  again 
appointed  by  Mayor  Crawford  and  served  four 
years.  In  1885,  A.  W.  Webb  was  appointed 
by  Mayor  Taggart  and  served  six  years.  In 
1891,  E.  L.  Tisdale  was  appointed  by  Mayor 
Starr  and  served  three  years.  In  1894,  A.  E, 
Bargren  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Hutchins, 
which  office  he  has  since  continuously  held.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  city  has  had  in  its  employ 
nineteen  different  men  at  the  head  of  its  police 
department.  Those  longest  in  service  have  been 
Marshals  Sully  and  Bargren.  There  is  no  doubt 
but  that  each  one  of  these  chief  officers  was 
a  capable  man  and  efficient  officer.  Chief  Sully's 
administration  was  a  notable  one,  and  the  peace 
and  well  being  of  the  city  was  carefully  looked 
after.  Chief  Bargren,  the  present  head  of  the 
police  department,  has  achieved  remarkable 
success.  He  is  a  fine  disciplinarian,  is  highly 
respected  by  his  subordinates  and  the  people,  is 
a  perfect  gentleman,  and  a  terror  to  evil  doers. 
He  is  possessed  of  all  the  better  characteristics 
and  higher  qualities  that  go  to  make  up  a  leader 
and  efficient  officer.  The  police  department 
has  been  gradually  increased  from  a  force  of  one 
man  to  that  of  twenty-one,  distributed  as  follows: 
One  marshal,  one  assistant  marshal,  two  patrol 
drivers,  twelve  patrolmen,  one  jailer,  four  mer- 
chant police  and  one  sanitary  police  officer. 
Extra  police  are  put  on  the  force  upon  special 
occasions  and  are  under  the  control  of  the  chief, 
The  department  has  two  stations  and  is 
equipped  with  all  the  necessary  paraphernalia 
necessary  to  make  it  efficient,  and  is  valued  at 
$1,824.00, 


ROCKFORD 


Recently  the  Gamewell  Telegraph  Alarm 
system  has  been  installed  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.00. 
Eight  boxes  are  now  in  use  and  others  can  be 
connected  as  they  may  be  required.  Five 
Rockford  banks  are  connected  by  this  system 
with  police  headquarters,  and  are  thus  enabled 
to  call  assistance  at  any  moment. 


The  police  department  was  placed  in  the 
civil  service  list  by  popular  vote  at  the  munici- 
pal election  of  1903,  and  the  time  of  service  of 
each  member  of  the  force  is  now  indicated  by 
service  stripes.  The  personnel  and  time  of  ser- 
vice of  the  present  force  follows:  A  E.  Bar- 
gren,  marshal,  thirteen  years;  M.  B.  Little,  assis- 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHN    H.    SHERRATT 


The  cost  of  maintenance  for  the  year  1902 
was  $15,937.00.  During  the  year  1902,  1180 
arrests  were  made.  These  were  for  various 
offenses,  among  which  were  355  for  drunken- 
ness, 215  for  drunk  and  disorderly,  24  for  abuse 
of  family,  19  for  fighting,  and  88  for  vagrancy. 
The  remaining  70 1  were  for  the  commission  of 
one  or  the  other  of  67  different  classified  offenses. 
The  list  of  classified  offenses  numbers  72, 


tant  marshal,  fifteen  years;  M.  H.  Golden,  thirteen 
years;  F.  A.  Daniels,  twelve  years;  Olof  Erick- 
son.  twelve  years;  J.  T,  McGrahan,  eight  years; 
John  Cavanaugh,  eight  years;  Philip  Quinn, 
four  years;  Homer  Read,  eight  years;  Charles 
Cavanaugh,  two  years;  J.  A.  Ellison,  two  years; 
Charles  J.  Salen,  two  years;  H.  Compton,  two 
years;  Frank  Sully,  one  year;  Fred  Glenny,  one 
year;  Gus  Stewart,  one  year;  D.  C.  Chandler, 


ROCKFORD 


twenty-three  years;  P.  J.  Sullivan.  16  years; 
John  Grans,  sixteen  years;  Dennis  Dwyer,  four- 
teen years;  and  C.  E.  Peterson  and  Frank  Bur- 
bank  appointed  in  1902. 

The  office  of  police  magistrate  is  an  adjunct 
of  the  police  department  and  was  established  in 
1881,  under  the  administration  of  Mayor  Craw- 
ford, when  Arthur  H.  Frost  was  elected  to  this 
office,  which  he  held  six  years. 

Judge  Frost  executed  the  duties  of  his  office 
with  signal  success  and  marked  ability.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Judge  L.  L.  Morrison  in  1887, 
who  has  served  continuously  since.  Judge  Mor- 
rison, during  his  fifteen  years  of  service,  has 
made  an  ideal  magistrate  and  his  administration 
of  the  office  has  given  universal  satisfacfion.  A 
just  and  fair  administration  of  the  office  makes 
it  essential  that  the  presiding  judge  should  be 
possessed  of  superior  legal  talent  and  a  well  bal- 
anced judicial  mind.  These  Judge  Morrison 
has  in  a  marked  degree. 

Since  Rockford  became  a  city,  it  has  ex- 
pended more  than  $300,000.00  for  police  pro- 
tection. Doubtless  this  has  been  a  judicious 
expenditure  as  the  city  has  maintained  a  high 
reputation  abroad  as  being  one  where  good  order 
prevails  and  property  and  life  are  secure. 

W1NNEBAGO    COUNTY    MEDICAL 
SOCIETY. 

The  Winnebago  County  Medical  Society 
was  originally  organized  in  1851,  but  owing  to 
a  lack  of  interest  and  attention  of  its  members, 
it  was  allowed  to  lapse.  In  1881,  the  profession 
felt  the  need  of  concerted  action,  and  the  matter 
was  taken  up  and  a  re- organization  was  effected. 
A  meeting  was  held  in  the  council  rooms,  at 
which  officers  were  elected  and  by-laws  and 
constitution  adopted,  October  18,  1881. 

The  following  preamble  sets  forth  the  object 
of  organization:  "The  undersigned  physicians 
of  Winnebago  County,  for  the  purpose  of  culti- 
vating those  graces  and  good  qualities,  which 
adorn  the  profession  of  medicine  and  for  the 
purpose  of  mutual  improvement  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  science  of  and  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery,  do  hereby  associate  themselves  to- 


gether, and  do  adopt  for  the  government  of  this 
association  the  following  constitution  and  by- 
laws." 

The  constitution  and  by-laws  adopted  are 
similar  to  those  of  other  organizations,  and 
simply  provide  for  the  administration  of  the 
business  of  the  association. 

At  this  meeting,  Dr.  E.  P.  Catlin  was  elected 
president,  Dr.  S.  A.  Austin  vice-president,  and 
Dr.  H.  W.  Tibbetts  secretary.  The  names  of 
the  physicians  enrolled  at  this  time,  follow: 
Drs.  R.  P.  Lane,  C.  H.  Richings,  G.  W.  Rohr, 
Henry  Richings,  S.  E.  Goodwin,  H.  M.  Sabin, 
Geo.  Williams,  L.  Tibbets,  W.  L.  Ransom,  A. 
M.  Catlin,  D.  S.  Clark,  C.  W.  Goddard,  Lucius 
F.  Foot,  Daniel  Lichty,  E.  M.  Patten,  M.  Alex- 
ander Makintosh,  F.  ,H  Kimball,  J.  E.  Allaben, 
E.  R.  Smith,  E.  N.  Huntly,  W.  H.  Fitch,  E.  E. 
Oder,  L.  A.  Clark,  F.  A.  Jorden  and  W.  B. 
Rodgers  The  list  of  members  was  revised  in 
1901,  and  is  now  as  follows:  Drs.  George -L. 
Winn,  T.  N.  Miller,  W.  R.  Fringer,  L.  Tibbetts, 
C.  V.  Starke,  T.  H.  Culhane,  A.  F.  Comings, 
Henry  Richings.  J.  E.  Allaben,  F.  W.  Calkins, 
W.  H.  Fitch.  F.  H.  Kimball,  W.  B.  Helm,  Daniel 
Lichty,  P.  L.  Markley,  R.  E.  Coy,  F.  J  Weld, 
R.  Sager,  G.  W.  Rohr,  E.  P.  Catlin,  S.  R. 
Catlin,  B.  C.  Anderson,  E.  E.  Ochsner.  S.  C. 
Andrus,  C.  W.  Moyer,  Albert  Green,  J.  H. 
Frost,  Clinton  Helm,  Penn.  W.  Ransom,  S.  C. 
Leland,  W.  E.  Park,  G.  W.  Haines,  H.  A. 
Stalker,  David  Penniman,  C.  L.  Sutherland,  A. 
C.  Eakin,  P.  F.  Gillett,  J.  E.  Tuite,  Jalba  John- 
son, W  P.  Woodard,  Roy  P.  Williams,  S.  V. 
Romig,  R.  G.  W.  Kinder,  G.  S.  Henderson, 
Emil  Lofgren,  Charles  R.  Scott,  R.  W.  Mc- 
Ennes,  E.  J.  Clark,  W.  W.  Crockett,  Charles 
S.  Winn,  G.  A.  Howard,  and  J.  E.  Haughey. 

By  virtue  of  membership  in  the  county  or- 
ganization, one  becomes  a  member  of  the  State 
Medical  Society.  This  is  a  recent  arrangement 
and  is  of  great  benefit  to  the  local  society. 

The  present  officers  of  the  county  organiza- 
tion are  Dr.  T.  N,  Miller  president;  Dr.  Charles 
S  Winn,  secretary  and  treasurer.  Meetings 
are  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  evening  of  each 
month. 


R  O  C  K  F  O  R  D 


ROCKFORD  CITY  HOSPITAL. 

In  1883,  steps  were  taken  to  establish  a  city 
hospital  in  Rockford.  The  leading  physicians 
and  a  number  of  public  spirited  citizens  of  the 
city  took  the  matter  in  hand.  A  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  Winnebago  County  Medical 
Society  in  the  fall  of  1883,  for  the  purpose  of 


Vincent.  The  trustees  were  W.  A.  Talcott, 
William  Lathrop,  N.  C.  Thompson,  William 
Brown,  Jeremiah  Davis,  H.  W.  Carpenter,  John 
Z.  Rydburg,  Thour  Munthe,  R.  P.  Lane,  B.  F. 
Whipple,  Thomas  Butterworth,  Frances  I.  Price, 
Mary  H.  Penfield,  Jane  G.  Wilkins  and  Ada- 
line  E.  Emerson. 


RESIDENCE  OF  JEREMIAH   DAVIS 


securing  a  corporate  organization  under  the  laws 
of  the  state  for  such  hospital.  Application  was 
made  for  a  certificate  of  organization  which  was 
duly  granted  December  15,  1883.  The  name 
of  the  corporation  was  the  Rockford  Hospital 
Association,  and  the  incorporators  were  Azro  E. 
Goodwin,  Silas  A.  Austin,  Frank  H.  Kimball, 
F.  K.  Hill,  Lemuel  Tibbetts,  and  Thomas  G. 


January  29.  1884,  a  temporary  organization 
was  formed  by  electing  William  Brown  chair- 
man, and  W.  A.  Talcott  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  board  of  trustees.  A  constitution  and 
by-laws  were  adopted  April  8,  1884,  and  the 
following  officers  elected:  William  Brown,  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  Jane  G.  Wilkins,  vice-president;  and 
W.  A.  Talcott,  secretary  and  treasurer. 


ROCKFORD 


53 


The  present  hospital  site  was  purchased  of 
Dr.  W.  H.  Fitch,  June  21,  1884,  for  $6,500.00. 
The  site  was  fully  paid  for  and  a  deed  bearing 
date  of  July  I,  1885.  received. 

April  11,  1885,  Chester  Butterworth  was 
elected  a  trustee  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  his  father,  who  died  in  Ashville.  N. 
C.,  Aprils,  1885.  The  hospital  was  opened  for 
patients  October  I,  1885.  Dr.  S.  A.  Austin 
and  F.  H.  Kimball  were  the  first  attending  phy- 
sician and  surgeon,  respectively.  Drs.  R.  P. 
Lane  and  D.  S.  Clark  were  the  first  consulting 
physicians,  and  Drs.  W.  H.  Fitch  and  Henry 
Richings  the  first  consulting  surgeons. 

Mrs.  Martha  J.  Smith  was  the  first  matron 
of  the  hospital  and  served  until  March  28,  1900, 
when  she  resigned.  Hospital  Sunday  was  es- 
tablished in  the  churches  October  10,  1885,  by 
resolution  of  the  hospital  trustees,  which  has 
since  been  maintained  with  a  very  liberal  spirit. 
The  first  patient  was  received  October  1 0,  1 885. 
In  1888,  steps  were  taken  to  provide  a  per- 
manent fund  for  the  maintenance  of  the  hospital 
and  the  report  for  1893,  shows  that  $43,356.17 
had  been  placed  in  this  fund. 

A  training  school  for  nurses,  in  connection 
with  the  hospital,  was  established  July  6,  1888. 
In  1901,  Mrs.  Adaline  E.  Emerson,  in  memory 
of  her  son,  Ralph  Emerson,  Jr.,  deceased,  con- 
tributed the  funds  for  an  addition  to  the  hospital 
for  an  operating  room  and  office,  which  cost 
$1,333.66 — this  addition  was  opened  March  6, 
1888. 

William  Brown  served  as  president  from 
1884  to  1886,  William  Lathrop  from  1886  to 
1887,  Horatio  Stone  from  1887  to  January  29, 
1896,  when  his  death  occurred.  William  Lath- 
rop was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  Mr.  Stone,  which  office  he  has 
held  continuously  since. 

Lizzie  C.  Glenn  was  appointed  as  general 
superintendent  of  nurses  and  training  school, 
March  28,  1900.  She  resigned  April  6,  1901, 
and  Miss  Flora  B.  Patch  was  appointed  in  her 
stead.  Miss  Patch  resigned  November  1,  1902. 
and  Miss  Alma  M.  Barter  received  the  appoint- 
ment, which  position  she  now  holds. 

W.  A.  Talcott  served  as  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  hospital  from  its  inception  to  the 


time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Palestine, 
December  19,  1901.  The  success  of  the  in- 
stitution is  in  large  measure  due  to  his  liberal- 
ity and  untiring  effort.  His  son,  Wait  Talcott, 
was  elected  to  the  position  so  ably  filled  by  his 
father,  April  6.  1901,  which  position  he  now 
holds. 

During  the  year  1902,  506  patients  were  re- 
ceived for  treatment.  The  receipts  from  all 
sources  during  18  years,  have  been  $244,417.26, 
and  the  expenditures  $224,678.28,  leaving  a  bal- 
ance of  $19,738.98.  The  largest  contribu- 
tion to  the  hospital  fund  was  from  the  estate 
of  Horatio  Stone,  which  was  $27,00000; 
the  next  largest  is  from  W.  A.  Talcott  and 
family  $  1 2,000.00;  and  A.  D.  Forbes  and  family 
$10,500.00.  Several  others  have  contributed 
from  $2,400.00  to  $5.000.00.  A  fine  new 
building  is  being  erected,  fitted  with  modern  ap- 
pliances and  perfectly  fire-proof,  which  will  cost 
about  $50,000.00. 

ST.  ANTHONY  HOSPITAL. 

The  necessity  of  a  public  hospital,  located  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  where  the  majority  of 
the  people  of  the  city  now  reside,  had  been 
keenly  felt  for  several  years.  After  consider- 
able inquiry  as  to  how  such  an  institution  could 
best  be  carried  on,  the  Franciscan  Sisters,  of 
Peoria,  consented  to  take  charge  of  the  hospital. 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  late  William 
Grotty,  the  present  site  of  St.  Anthony's  hospi- 
tal was  purchased  from  the  late  Leonard 
Schmauss  estate  for  $12,000,00.  The  house 
upon  the  site  being  large  and  conveniently  ar- 
ranged for  the  purpose,  was  utilized  for  a  hospi- 
tal building.  The  Sisters  took  charge  of  the 
hospital  July  1,  1899. 

The  present  fine  edifice  was  built  in  1902, 
at  a  cost  of  $40,000.00,  and  was  dedicated  by 
Archbishop  Quigley,  March  29,  1903.  The 
building  contains  60  beds,  and  is  in  charge  of 
eleven  Sisters  with  two  assistants.  The  build- 
ing is  equipped  with  modern  hospital  appliances, 
and  is  fully  up-to-date  in  all  respects.  Its  loca- 
tion upon  a  beautiful  elevation  on  East  State 
street,  gives  it  a  conspicuity  not  enjoyed  by 
other  public  buildings  in  the  city.  Its  surround- 
ings are  such  as  to  make  its  location  most  de- 


54 


ROCKFORD 


sirable  for  the  purpose  intended.  Among  those 
who  were  largely  instrumental  in  establishing 
this  beautiful  hospital  were  Dr.  A.  J.  Markley, 
of  Belvidere,  Dr.  J.  E.  Allaben,  and  Dr.  Paul 
L.  Markley,  of  this  city.  They  were  not  only 
generous  givers  in  a  financial  way,  but  devoted 
much  time  in  making  it  a  success. 


Miss  Frances  Bradford  also  taught  school  in 
a  log  cabin  in  1837. 

The  early  schools  were  nearly  all  private. 
It  is  probable  that  there  was  a  district  school  on 
each  side  of  the  river.  The  first  public  school 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river  was  taught  by  L.  B. 
Gregory  in  1843.  Public  scnool  teachers,  at 


RESIDENCE  OF  WILL  BARNES 


ROCKFORD  SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  in  Rockford  was  taught  by 
Miss  Eunice  Brown,  in  a  log  house  with  an  earth 
floor,  on  the  site  of  1  10  South  Second  street,  in 
July,  1837.  In  1838,  the  same  teacher  taught 
in  a  building  that  was  located  on  the  present 
court  house  square.  Miss  Brown  afterward 
married  J.  G.  Lyon,  and  resided  on  a  farm  in 
the  township  of  Rockton,  where  she  died  De- 
cember 7,  1889. 


this  time,  and  up  to  the  enactment  of  the  free 
school  law  by  the  legislature,  in  1855,  were  paid 
by  a  rate  bill.  After  the  free  school  law  went 
into  effect,  the  public  schools  immediately  took 
on  a  rapid  growth,  and  have  continued  to  im- 
prove until  we  have  the  finest  school  system  in 
the  world. 

The  first  school  ordinance  for  the  City  of 
Rockford  was  passed  by  the  Council  June  20, 
1855,  which  divided  the  city  into  two  school 


ROCKFORD 


districts,  No    1  on  the  East  side  and  No.  2  on 
the  West  side. 

George  Haskell,  A.  S.  Miller  and  Jason 
Marsh  constituted  the  first  board  of  school  in- 
spectors, 

In  December,  1855,  a  lease  of  the  basement 
of  the  First  Baptist  church  was  purchased  of 
A.  W.  Freeman  for  school  purposes,  on  the 
West  side,  and  Mr.  Freeman  was  engaged  as 
teacher  at  a  salary  of  $800  per  year.  The  old 
court  house  on  the  East  side  was  leased  and 
Mr.  H.  Sabin  employed  as  teacher.  July  27, 
1855,  the  site  where  the  Adams  school  (now 
called  the  Freeman  school)  now  stands  was  pur- 
chased of  Solomon  Wheeler,  and  a  contract  for 
the  construction  of  a  school  building  upon  the 
same  was  let  September  10th  the  same  year. 
April  28,  1856,  a  contract  was  let  for  the  erect- 
ion of  a  school  building  on  the  present  site  of 
the  Lincoln  school.  Both  of  these  buildings 
were  completed  and  dedicated  August  14,  1857.  ^ 
These  two  district  schools  constituted  the  educa- 
tional centers  for  the  children  of  the  city  down 
to  1884,  when  the  city  was  organized  into  one 
school  district  with  one  high  school. 

The  principals  of  District  No.  1  were  Orlan- 
der  C.  Blackmer  and  Henry  Freeman,  the  latter 
retaining  his  position  from  1859  to  1880,  when 
he  resigned,  He  was  succeeded  by  Prof.  Mc- 
Pherson,  who  continued  until  the  district  was 
abolished  in  1884.  The  principals  for  District 
No.  2  were  George  G.  Lyon,  E.  M.  Fernald,  E. 
N.  Weller,  J.  H.  Blodgett  and  W.  W.  Stetson. 

The  building  of  the  Kent  school  took  place 
shortly  after  those  on  the  East  and  West  sides, 
and  Prof.  O.  F.  Barbour  has  been  its  principal 
for  most  of  the  time  since  its  inception,  receiv- 
ing his  appointment  in  1866. 

The  city  schools  are  under  the  management 
of  a  board  of  five  school  inspectors  appointed  by 
the  mayor,  with  a  city  school  superintendent. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1903  the  city 
schools  number  seventeen,  all  modern  buildings, 
and  supplied  with  the  latest  and  most  approved 
appliances,  the  total  cost  of  which  is  $416,- 
820  20.  This  includes  the  cost  of  the  several 
sites,  the  construction  and  equipment  of  the 
buildings,  but  does  not  include  the  cost  of  the 
buildings  demolished  to  make  room  for  several 


of  the  new  ones.  When  this  is  included  the 
sum  will  reach  fully  $500,000.00. 

The  cost  of  maintenance  of  the  schools  in- 
creases annually  with  the  growth  of  the  city. 

The  appropriation  for  this  purpose  for  the 
year  1903  is  $105,637.20. 

Following  is  a  summary  showing  the  date 
and  cost  of  construction  of  the  several  school 
buildings  in  the  city. 

NAME. 

High  School, 
Lincoln  School, 
Freeman  School, 
Kent  School, 
Hall  School, 
Wight  School, 
Brown  School, 
Montague  School, 
Garrison  School, 
Church  School, 
Kishwaukee  School, 
Nelson  School, 
Marsh  School, 
Blake  School, 
Haskell  School, 
Ellis  School, 
Turner  School, 

Making  a  total  of  $416,820.20 

representing  the  present  value  of  the  city  school 
property. 

The  total  cost  of  maintenance  of  the  schools 
of  the  city,  from  their  establishment,  can  be 
ascertained  only  by  careful  estimates  and  com- 
parisons, which  show  an  investment  of  $1,606,- 
500.00.  Including  the  value  of  school  property 
the  grand  total  is  $2,023,320.20. 

SOLDIERS'  AND  SAILORS'    MEMORIAL 
HALL. 

The  legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois  made 
an  appropriation  for  the  building  of  a  Soldiers' 
Home,  in  1885,  and  appointed  a  Board  of  Com- 
missioners to  select  a  site  for  its  location. 

At  the  July  session  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors of  Winnebago  county,  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Chairman  E,  J.  Veness,  Robert  Simp- 
son and  S.  W.  Jones  for  the  board,  and  Col.  T. 
G.  Lawler,  Geo.  S.  Haskell  and  C.  C.  Jones  for 
the  citizens  was  appointed  to  present  the  desira- 


DATE. 

COST. 

1885 

1857 

$92,145.97 
35,00000 

1857 

40,000.00 

1858 

20,000.00 

1866 

30,000.00 

1889 

20,000.00 

1892 

18.000.00 

1883-92 

20,700.00 

1887-92 

18.00000 

1894 

20,000.00 

1896 

30,000.00 

1881 

4.000.00 

1872 

5,000.00 

1899 

28,385.49 

1874 

6,000  00 

1868 

4,000.00 

1898 

25,588.74 

ROCKFORD 


bility  of  locating  the  home  in  Winnebago  county 
to  the  commissioners,  but  nothing  was  accom- 
plished. 

The  following  year,  1886,  at  the  March 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  Supervisor 
John  D.  Jackson,  of  Pecatonica,  introduced  a 
resolution  for  the  appropriation  of  $25,000.00 
for  the  building  of  a  Winnebago  county  monu- 
ment. 


proposition  to  appropriate  $25,000.00  for  a  Me- 
morial Hall  was  carried  at  the  election. 

At  the  May  meeting,  Supervisor  Simpson  sub- 
mitted a  resolution  providing  for  the  appropria- 
tion as  determined  by  the  vote  of  the  people. 

On  account  of  a  difference  of  opinion  having 
arisen  in  the  Board  as  to  several  points  at  issue, 
action  on  the  resolution  was  deferred  until  the 
September  meeting,  at  which  it  was  defeated. 


RESIDENCE    OF    HORACE    BROWN 


The  resolution  made  provision  for  the  loca- 
tion of  the  monument  on  the  court  house  square. 
Action  on  the  resolution  was  laid  over  one  day, 
and  in  the  interim  the  question  arose  as  to 
whether  a  Memorial  building  would  not  be  pre- 
ferable to  a  monument.  Meantime  Nevius  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  submitted  a  request  asking  the  Board 
to  let  the  people  vote  as  to  which  the  memorial 
should  be  a  monument  or  a  hall.  This  request 
was  incorporated  in  the  original  resolution.  The 


The  memorial  matter  was  not  brought  up 
again  until  the  July  session  of  1898,  when  A.  D. 
Early  made  a  plea  before  the  Board  for  action 
in  this  direction.  Supervisor  Osborne  favored 
the  plan,  and  introduced  a  resolution  providing 
for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of  five,  in- 
cluding the  chairman  of  the  Board,  to  confer 
with  a  committee  of  citizens  with  a  view  of  de- 
vising some  plan  for  securing  a  monument. 
The  resolution  was  adopted,  and  E.  H.  Keeler, 


ROCKFORD 


57 


Aug.  Peterson,  W.  L.  Osborne  and  D.  W.  Barn- 
ingham,  with  J  M.  Rhodes,  chairman,  were 
made  the  committee.  Supervisor  Van  Alstyne 
moved  that  the  Rockford  City  Council  be  asked 
to  appoint  a  committee  of  five  to  confer  with 
the  Board  committee,  which  carried,  and  the 
Council  appointed  F.  E.  Sterling,  John  A.  Bow- 
man, M.  A.  Love,  John  A.  Nash  and  J.  F. 
Ogilby  said  committee. 

The  joint  committee  met  at  the  court  house 
August  13,  1898,  and  organized  by  making  F. 
E.  Sterling,  chairman,  and  E.  H.  Keeler,  sec- 
retary. 

After  a  thorough  discussion  of  the  matter  it 
was  deemed  advisable  to  present  petitions  to  the 
City  Council  and  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  Ac- 
cordingly blanks  were  sent  out  over  the  county 
for  indorsement  which  were  unanimously  signed. 
The  committee  favored  the  building  of  a  hall. 

An  adjournment  was  taken  to  September  13, 
when  a  joint  resolution  was  adopted  favoring  the 
building  of  a  Memorial  Hall. 

The  petitions  were  presented  to  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  at  the  December  meeting  of 
1898,  together  with  the  recommendations  of  the 
joint  committee,  and  a  set  of  resolutions  from 
Nevius  Post,  G,  A.  R.,  asking  favorable  action 
at  the  hands  of  the  Board.  Supervisor  Keeler 
had  the  matter  in  charge,  and  offered  a  resolu- 
tion setting  forth  the  desire  of  the  people  for  a 
Memorial  building,  and  the  obligations  of  the 
county  to  recognize  the  merits  of  the  soldiers  of 
the  county,  together  with  a  provision  for  the 
appropriation  of  $20,000.00  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  said  building,  and  moved  its  adoption. 
Action  was  delayed  to  secure  an  opinion  from 
the  state's  attorney  as  to  the  legality  of  the 
matter 

The  following  day  State's  Attorney  A.  H. 
Frost  rendered  an  opinion  adverse  to  the  propo- 
sition, and  the  whole  matter  was  laid  over  to  the 
May  meeting  in  1899.  Steps  were  immediately 
taken  to  secure  special  legislation  in  the  form 
of  an  enabling  act,  and  a  bill  was  drawn  by  A.  D. 
Early  for  this  purpose.  Hon.  Henry  Andrus 
took  charge  of  the  bill  and  secured  its  passage 
at  the  1 898  session  of  the  legislature. 

A  petition  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  was 
then  presented,  asking  the  submission  of  the 


proposition  to  the  voters  of  the  county  at  the 
November  election  of  1900.  The  members  of 
Nevius  Post  aided  in  the  matter,  and  the  elec- 
tion resulted  in  a  hearty  endorsement  of  the 
measure. 

At  the  December  meeting  of  the  Board  in 
1900,  the  result  of  the  election  was  announced, 
and  Col.  T.  G.  Lawler,  with  other  G.  A.  R.  men, 
appeared  before  the  Board  and  asked  that  a 
Memorial  Hall  instead  of  a  monument  be 
erected. 

On  motion  of  A.  J.  Lovejoy,  the  matter  was 
referred  to  a  special  committee  to  ascertain  the 
cost  of  a  site  and  to  obtain  plans  for  carrying 
out  the  wishes  of  the  voters,  and  to  report  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Board.  The  next  day, 
Supervisor  Osborne  moved  that  the  matter  be 
laid  over  to  the  next  meeting,  and  that  a  com- 
mittee of  six  be  appointed  to  investigate  the 
cost  and  location  of  a  suitable  memorial,  which 
carried.  Supervisors  A.  J.  Lovejoy,  C.  H. 
Latham,  D.  B.  Redington,  Walter  Van  Alstyne, 
D.  W.  Barningham  and  Aug.  Nylander  were 
made  the  committee. 

The  following  day  Supervisor  Nylander 
moved  that  the  committee  be  authorized  to  se- 
cure plans  for  both  a  monument  and  a  hall,  and 
that  $500,00  be  appropriated  for  the  purpose, 
which  carried. 

At  the  March  meeting  in  1901,  Chairman 
Lovejoy  reported  that  the  committee  had  made 
general  inquiry  in  different  parts  of  the  state, 
and  had  invited  four  different  architects  to  sub- 
mit plans  for  both  a  building  and  a  monument, 
and  that  the  committee  favored  the  building  of 
a  Memorial  Hall,  and  recommended  the  plans 
of  Reeves  &  Bailee  of  Peoria,  provided  said 
building  is  guaranteed  not  to  cost  more  than 
$40,000.00,  and  also  favored  placing  the  build- 
ing on  the  southwest  corner  of-  the  court  house 
square.  Action  on  the  report  Was  laid  over  one 
day,  and  when  taken  up,  Supervisor  Turner 
moved  that  it  be  the  sense  of  the  Board  that  a 
Memorial  Hall  be  erected,  and  the  motion  pre- 
vailed. 

The  motion  to  adopt  the  report  of  the  spe- 
cial committee  was  lost,  and  the  committee  was 
discharged. 


ROCKFORD 


Supervisor  Carson  then  moved  that  a  com- 
mittee of  five  members  be  appointed  to  present 
plans  and  specifications  for  a  Memorial  Hall 
with  probable  cost  of  same  at  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Board,  which  carried. 

The  committee  were:  Supervisors  Osborne, 
Neeley,  Redington,  Van  Alstyne  and  Carson. 


court  house  square  was  successful,  and  the  mo- 
tion carried  with  it  instructions  to  purchase  the 
Butterworth  site  on  North  Main  street,  at  a  cost 
not  to  exceed  $!  1,500.00. 

The  location  of  the  building  having  been  de- 
termined. Supervisor  Nylander  moved  that  a 
building  committee  of  five  be  appointed,  which 


RESIDENCE    OF    I.    SHOUDY 


At  the  June  session  bids  were  received  for 
sites,  and  a  vote  taken  on  the  location  of  the 
building,  which  resulted  in  the  selection  of  the 
court  house  square. 

At  the  following  September  meeting  an  effort 
was  made  to  rescind  the  vote  locating  the  build- 
ing on  the  court  house  square,  but  it  failed. 

At  the  December  meeting  another  effort  to 
rescind  the  vote  to  locate  the  building  on  the 


prevailed,  and  Supervisors  Van  Alstyne,  White- 
head,  Lovejoy,  Redington  and  Nylander  were 
appointed.  The  Bradley  &  Carpenter  plans 
were  adopted  at  the  June  meeting. 

The  building  committee  organized  Decem- 
ber 12,  1901,  by  electing  Walter  Van  Alstyne, 
chairman,  and  J.  B.  Whitehead,  secretary. 
Bids  were  advertised  for  January  1 1,  1902. 


ROCKFORD 


59 


Eleven  bids  were  received,  ranging  in  price 
from  $38,000.00  by  W.  H.  Cook  to  $52,8 14  00 
by  H.  Ferge.  These  bids  were  considered  too 
high  and  were  all  rejected.  The  architects 
modified  their  plans  slightly,  and  bids  were 
called  for  again.  March  25,  1902,  the  commit- 
tee had  received  four  bids,  which  were  opened, 
and  the  contract  was  awarded  to  W.  H.  Cook 
for  $35,324.00.  Work  was  begun  shortly  after 
and  pushed  rapidly  to  completion. 

The  building  was  dedicated  by  President 
Roosevelt,  Wednesday,  June  3,  1903,  the  occa- 
sion being  the  most  notable  event  in  the  history 
of  Rockford.  President  Roosevelt  was  the  first 
president  to  visit  the  city,  and  thousands  of  peo- 
ple from  near  and  from  far  came  to  do  him  and 
the  occasion  honor. 

ROCKFORD   HOTELS. 

The  Rockford  House,  which  claims  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  hotel  built  in  the  city 
was  opened  to  the  public  in  the  autumn  of  1837. 
Previous  to  that  time  several  of  the  settlers  had 
opened  their  homes  to  strangers,  but  not  as  reg- 
ular hotel-keepers. 

The  Rockford  House  was  built  by  Daniel  S. 
Haight  and  Charles  S.  Oliver,  and  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  present  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation building.  The  first  landlord  was  Henry 
Thurston,  and  his  son  acted  in  the  double  capac- 
ity of  clerk  and  chambermaid,  especially  for  the 
rooms  in  the  third  story  which  had  to  be  reached 
by  the  ladder  route.  Mr.  Thurston  was  suc- 
ceeded as  landlord  by  several  of  the  other  old 
time  residents,  there  being  at  least  eight  to  fol- 
low him. 

The  next  season  after  the  Rockford  House 
was  opened  the  second  hotel  for  the  village  was 
commenced,  and  this  was  completed  and  opened 
to  the  public  in  1839.  The  building  known  as 
the  Washington  House  stood  in  East  State 
street,  and  was  quite  a  pretentious  building.  It 
had  a  front  of  sixty  feet,  with  large  additions  at 
the  rear.  The  kitchen  was  in  the  basement. 
Soon  after  the  building  was  completed  the  street 
in  front  was  graded  and  left  the  building  stand- 
ing on  a  high  bank.  Ten  or  twelve  steps  were 
necessary  to  lead  from  the  street  to  the  entrance. 
The  name  of  the  hotel  was  later  changed  to  the 


Rock  River  House,  and  part  of  the  building  now 
stands  at  307  East  State  street,  and  the  other 
section  is  on  the  southeast  corner  of  State  and 
Madison  streets.  The  building  was  built  by 
Jacob  B.  and  Thomas  Miller.  Its  first  landlord 
was  Jacob  Miller,  and  was  followed  by  nearly  a 
dozen  landlords. 

In  1838  the  Log  Tavern,  then  called  the 
Stage  House,  was  opened.  This  was  located 
on  the  corner  where  the  Second  National  Bank 
stood  at  Main  and  State  streets. 

For  some  time  these  three  buildings  consti- 
tuted the  hotel  accommodations  of  the  city,  and 
in  1850  Andrew  Brown  added  to  the  list  by  open- 
ing a  new  place  called  Brown's  House  and  G.  S. 
Moore  became  its  proprietor.  The  American 
House  still  stands,  and  though  fifty  years  old,  is 
a  good  building  yet. 

The  Waverly  and  Union  houses  were  started 
in  1852,  and  were  located  in  the  south  part  of 
the  city  near  where  the  Northwestern  passenger 
station  stands.  These  buildings  are  still  stand- 
ing as  evidences  of  the  hotel  facilities  of  the 
early  days  in  Rockford.  At  the  time  these 
places  were  built  they  were  considered  excellent 
hotels,  and  the  trade  they  did  was  enormous: 

The  site  now  occupied  by  the  Chick  House 
was  where  the  Inn  was  started  in  1840  by  Spen- 
cer &  Fuller.  This  house  was  conducted  for 
several  seasons.  The  Inn  was  the  real  begin- 
ning of  the  modern  hotel,  and  though  not  as  pre- 
tentious as  those  which  followed  contained  many 
of  the  improvements  in  the  way  of  wash  rooms 
and  toilets,  and  the  first  bills  of  fare  used  in  the 
city  were  furnished  guests  of  the  Inn  by  Messrs. 
Spencer  &  Fuller. 

Next  in  line  came  the  Eagle  Hotel,  which 
was  erected  in  South  Main  street,  three  blocks 
from  State  street,  and  still  stands  there. 

The  first  brick  hotel  was  the  Winnebago 
House.  This  building  was  finished  in  the  fall 
of  1838,  but  for  five  years  was  used  as  a  store 
building,  and  when  it  was  completed  there  was 
quite  a  celebration,  for  this  was  the  first  brick 
building  on  Rock  River  above  Rock  Island.  Dr. 
Haskell  and  Isaiah  Lyon  conducted  the  business 
until  1843  when  Mr.  Lyon  became  sole  owner 
of  the  stock  and  building,  closed  it  out  and  re- 
modeled the  building  into  a  hotel  called  the 


6o 


ROCKFORD 


Winnebago  House,  which  was  continued  until 
1854  when  it  was  again  rearranged  into  stores. 
The  building  was  located  on  what  is  known  as 
Andrew  Ashton's  corner. 

The  real  modern  hotel  first  established  in 
the  city  was  the  Holland  House,  which  later 
became  the  Huffman  House.  This  was  the  first 


After  the  establishment  of  the  Holland  House 
there  were  many  other  hotels  opened,  and  the 
city  has  continued  to  be  one  of  best  supplied 
places  in  the  northwest  for  hotel  accommoda- 
tions. The  Commercial  House,  on  Green  street, 
opposite  the  Northwestern  depot,  was  one  of 
those  to  follow  and  is  still  running.  For  a  pe- 


RESIDENCE    OF   WM.    NELSON 


of  the  hotels  to  be  supplied  with  elevator,  etc. 
It  was  opened  in  1857.  The  building  stood  on 
the  corner  now  occupied  by  the  Masonic  Tem- 
ple. The  hotel  continued  as  the  leading  place 
of  the  kind  in  this  vicinity  for  many  years,  and 
up  to  the  opening  of  the  Nelson  was  at  the  top 
of  the  list  of  first  class  places  where  the  weary 
and  hungry  were  cared  for.  The  hotel  burned 
on  Christmas  eve,  1896. 


riod  of  several  years  it  was  known  as  White's 
Hotel,  and  in  its  earlier  days  was  classed  as  one 
of  the  leading  hotels  in  Rockford  owing  to  its 
excellent  location  near  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western depot,  at  that  time  the  only  railroad  de- 
pot in  the  city, 

The  American  House  on  Madison  street 
which  is  still  conducted  by  E.  E.  Everett ;  the 
City  Hotel  was  established  on  the  corner  now 


ROCKFORD 


61 


occupied  by  the  Forest  City  National  Bank, 
and  some  years  ago  was'razed. 

Those  of  the  other  hotels  now  being  con- 
ducted are  the  Chick,  The  Jarvis  Inn.  The  Na- 
tional, The  European,  Forest  City  House,  The 
Victoria  and  the  Nelson.  There  are  several 
restaurants  also,  and  these,  with  the  hotels,  can 
furnish  accommodations  for  hundreds  of  guests 
daily. 

The  Nelson  and  the  Chick  are  the  leading 
hotels,  and  the  former  is  one  of  the  finest  places 
in  the  northwest.  It  is  six  stories  high  and  has 
accommodations  for  over  two  hundred  guests. 
Its  location  is  in  one  of  the  pleasantest  parts  of 
the  city  and  guests  are  close  to  the  business 
district.  Its  service  and  culinary  departments 
are  up  to  the  standard  of  the  best  hotels  in  the 
west. 

The  Chick  House,  together  with  its  cottages 
and  annexes,  will  accommodate  two  hundred 
guests,  and  is  the  popular  headquarters  for  com- 
mercial travelers.  It  has  a  large  number  of 
regular  boarders  and  many  families  of  the  city 
patronize  the  house  for  Sunday  dinners. 

The  house  is  centrally  located,  and  the  city 
and  interurban  cars  pass  the  door. 

Could  one  of  the  early  day  visitors  to  the 
city  return  to-day  he  would  be  much  surprised 
at  the  wonderful  changes  wrought  in  hotel  facil- 
ities. 

ROCKFORD  COLLEGE. 

The  present  beautiful  Rockford  College  owes 
its  origin  to  a  conception  developed  in  a  conven- 
tion of  churches  held  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in 
June,  1844,  of  the  necessity  of  establishing  a 
college  for  men  and  a  seminary  for  women  in 
Southern  Wisconsin  and  Northern  Illinois  re- 
spectively. The  delegates,  upon  their  return 
from  the  convention,  called  a  meeting  at  Beloit 
in  August,  1844,  at  which  it  was  deemed  advisa- 
ble to  build  a  college  at  Beloit  and  a  seminary 
in  Northern  Illinois.  Three  subsequent  meet- 
ings were  held,  and  at  each  one  the  resolution 
of  the  first  meeting  was  upheld. 

At  the  fourth  meeting,  held  at  Beloit  in  Oc- 
tober, 1845,  Beloit  was  selected  as  the  location 
for  the  college  and  a  Board  of  Trustees  elected. 
The  charter  for  the  college  was  approved  by  the 


Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin,  Febru- 
ary 2,  1846.  Then  began  the  discussion  as  to 
a  site  for  the  location  of  the  seminary,  Rockton 
and  Rockford  were  rivals  for  the  location. 

But  Beloit  having  secured  the  college,  Rock- 
ton  was  considered  too  near  for  the  location  of 
the  seminary,  and  thus  Rockford  secured  the 
plum. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  the  Methodist  church 
in  Rockford  October  29.  1845,  to  consider  the 
location  of  the  seminary.  It  was  resolved  to 
raise  the  sum  of  money  prescribed  by  the  trus- 
tees of  Beloit  college,  about  $3,500.00.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  secure  subscriptions 
and  met  with  success.  A  charter  was  granted 
to  the  same  gentlemen  that  constituted  the  Be- 
loit College  trustees,  February  25,  1847. 

June  11,  1849,  Miss  Anna  P.  Sill  estab- 
lished a  preparatory  school  under  the  name  of 
the  Rockford  Female  Seminary.  This  institu- 
tion had  a  board  of  local  trustees,  who  planned 
to  make  it  the  seminary  aimed  at  by  the  trus- 
tees of  Beloit  College. 

In  1850  more  than  $6,000.00  were  pledged 
to  put  up  the  buildings  and  secure  the  ground, 
and  by  September  of  that  year  the  seminary  was 
assured. 

Miss  Sill's  school  was  recognized  by  the 
trustees  of  Beloit  College  in  1851  as  the  prepar- 
atory department  of  the  Rockford  Seminary, 
under  the  charter  which  they  held. 

Courses  of  study  were  defined,  and  upon  ex- 
amination, fifteen  were  admitted  into  the  first 
collegiate  class  in  September  of  that  year.  Thus 
the  college  was  formally  founded  in  1 85 1 .  Up 
to  1892,  it  was  known  as  Rockford  Female 
Seminary,  but  in  this  year  was  changed  to  its 
present  name — Rockford  College.  The  site 
was  purchased  from  Buell  G.  Wheeler,  and  has 
not  changed  in  its  contour  except  a  strip  taken 
from  the  west  end  by  the  Chicago  &  Iowa  rail- 
road. 

The  first  building  was  erected  by  John  Beat- 
tie,  and  cost  $7,927.35.  The  corner  stone  for 
this  building  was  laid  July  15,  1852,  by  Rev. 
Aratus  Kent,  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
In  1850,  it  was  deemed  advisable  by  the  trus- 
tees of  Beloit  College  that  each  institution  should 
manage  its  own  affairs,  and  the  seminary  inter- 


62 


ROCKFORD 


ests  were  turned  over  to  a  local  board,  which 
was  created  at  this  time,  and  in  1 852  the  sem- 
inary passed  into  the  hands  of  a  separate  board 
of  trustees. 

A  faculty  was  appointed  in  July,  1852,  with 
Miss  Sill  as  principal. 

In  1854  work  was  begun  on  Linden  Hall, 
the  money  for  the  building  of  which  largely  came 


tion  was  1,530,  and  the  money  contributed  from 
all  sources  was  $39,228.00. 

Miss  Sill  resigned  in  1884.  after  giving 
thirty-five  years  of  splendid  service  to  the  school, 
and  was  honored  by  being  made  principal  eme- 
rita,  which  position  she  held  at  the  time  of  her 
death,  June  18,  1889. 


A  VIEW  OF  ROCKFORD  COLLEGE 


from  the  east.  Up  to  Septembers,  1854,  Miss 
Sill  had  secured  $3,659.67  for  this  building.  In 
1866  a  second  addition,  Chapel  Hall,  was  begun 
with  its  connecting  corridors,  and  completed  in 
two  years.  In  1871,  Linden  Hall  and  Middle 
Hall  were  connected  by  corridors. 

From  the  founding  of  the  school  in  1849,  to 
the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  1861,  the  total  num- 
ber of  students  receiving  tuition  in  the  institu- 


THE  STREETS  OF  ROCKFORD. 
There  is  doubtless  no  other  feature  in  the 
building  of  a  city,  or  one  that  adds  so  much  to 
its  popular  reputation  as  its  streets  and  walks. 
The  condition  of  the  streets  and  walks  of  any 
city  is  the  first  thing  to  attract  the  attention  of  a 
stranger.  If  these  be  indifferent  or  poor,  the 
city  is  rated  as  being  one  lacking  in  thrift  and 
progress. 


ROCKFORD 


Fine  business  blocks  and  beautiful  residences 
count  for  but  little  if  the  streets  are  neglected. 
Rockford  has  kept  pace  in  the  care  and  improve- 
ment of  its  streets  with  its  development  in  other 
departments.  Its  citizens  and  property  owners 
have  been  ready  and  willing  to  submit  to  heavy 
assessments  that  the  streets  abutting  their  prop- 
erty might  be  substantially  paved  and  otherwise 
improved. 

Thousands  of  dollars  have  been  annually  ex- 
pended by  the  street  department  in  improving 
and  beautifying  the  streets  of  the  city. 

This  department  has  been  under  the  direc- 
tion of  competent  engineers,  and  the  work  has 
been  thoroughly  and  well  done.  The  sanitary 
conditions  of  any  city  depends  largely  upon  its 
drainage,  which  in  turn  is  controlled  by  its  streets 
and  sewers.  The  improvement  and  construc- 
tion of  these  constitute  one  of  the  heavy  bur- 
dens that  must  be  met  by  general  or  special  tax. 
Notwithstanding  this  fact  the  investment  is  one 
that  brings  the  largest  returns  to  the  city. 

The  following  persons  have  held  the  office 
of  city  engineer :  Duncan  Ferguson,  1880-81; 
T.  J.  L.  Remington,  1882-84;  Daniel  W. 
Mead,  1885-89;  D.  C.  Dunlap,  1890-91.  In 
1892  the  superintendency  of  sewers  was  added 
to  the  engineer's  department,  and  Charles  C. 
Stowell  was  placed  in  charge.  He  served  until 
1897,  when  Edwin  Main  was  appointed,  who 
still  holds  this  office. 

Mr.  Main  has  so  systematized  the  work  of 
the  street  and  sewer  department  as  to  give  the 
best  possible  results.  He  has  his  work  thorough- 
ly in  hand,  is  courteous  and  considerate  in  the 
transaction  of  business  connected  with  the  office 
and  his  ability  is  valuable  to  the  city. 

The  City  of  Rockford  has  130  miles  of 
streets,  44  miles  of  which  are  paved.  Two 
miles  are  paved  with  brick  and  two  with  asphalt. 
The  remaining  40  miles  are  macadamized. 
The  walks  are  mostly  made  of  concrete  or  tar, 
and  cover  about  160  miles. 

The  sewerage  system  is  being  rapidly  ex- 
tended. At  the  beginning  of  1903  there  were 
twenty  seven  miles  of  sewer  mains,  and  six  will 
be  added  during  the  year.  The  sewer  system 
has  cost  the  city  in  round  figures  $500,000.00, 


the  street  improvements  $1 ,000 ,000.00,  and  the 
sidewalks  $450,000.00. 

There  are  three  parks  in  the  city,  which  has 
cost  to  improve  and  maintain,  $60,000.00. 

Another  beautiful  park  will  doubtless  soon 
be  acquired  by  the  city,  as  it  is  proposed  by  the 
Winnebago  County  Agricultural  Society  to  trans- 
fer the  well  known  fair  grounds  to  the  city  for 
this  purpose. 

A  plan  is  also  proposed  to  park  the  east  side 
river  bank  from  State  street,  north,  for  a  con- 
siderable distance.  With  these  added  improve- 
ments Rockford  will  certainly  be  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  cities  in  the  country. 

ROCKFORD  CHURCHES. 

EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  first  and  only  Episcopal  parish  in  Rock- 
ford  was  organized  May  1,  1849.  The  articles 
of  incorporation  were  signed  by  Chauncy  Ray, 
Jonathan  Weldon,  Horace  Starkey,  Duncan  J. 
Stewart,  John  Conrad,  S.  R.  Weldon  and  Spen- 
cer S.  Weldon,  with  Rev.  Dudley  Chase  as  pre- 
siding officer,  and  who  was  the  first  rector. 
Duncan  J.  Stewart  is  the  only  incorporator  now 
living.  Rev.  Charles  Reighley  was  called  to 
the  rectorship  November  15,  1852,  and  with 
the  consent  of  Bishop  Henry  John  Whitehouse, 
accepted  the  call.  The  site,  where  the  present 
chapel  now  stands,  was  purchased  for  $200,  and 
a  building  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,900.00,  which 
was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Whitehouse,  August 
23,  1853,  by  the  name  of  "  Emanuel  Church, 
Rockford."  The  present  house  of  worship  was 
built  during  the  service  of  Rev.  D.  C.  Peabody, 
who  became  rector  March  1,  1886.  The  build- 
ing is  known  as  the  "  Fairfield  Memorial  Parish 
House,"  and  was  a  gift  to  the  society  by  Mrs. 
Eleanor  G.  Fairfield,  as  a  memorial  to  her  late 
husband,  W.  W.  Fairfield,  and  cost  $40,000.00. 
At  this  time  an  additional  thirty  feet  of  land 
was  added  to  the  site  costing  $1 ,600.00.  and  the 
rectory,  No.  82 1  North  Church  street,  was  pur- 
chased for  $6,000.00. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  rectors  who 
have  ministered  to  this  society :  Rev.  Dudly 
Chase,  Charles  Reighley,  Anson  Clark,  Michael 
Schofield,  William  T.  Smithett,  Thomas  Smith, 
S,  B.  Duffield,  J.  E.  Walton,  S.  D.  Day,  C.  S. 


64 


ROCKFORD 


Percival,  F.  W.  Adams,  A,  W.  Snyder,  D.  C. 
Peabody,  Wyllys  Rede  and  N.  B  Clinch,  the 
present  rector. 

The  charter  membership  was  about  twenty. 
The  present  membership  is  260.  The  total  ex- 
penditures since  the  organization  of  the  society 
for  all  purposes  are  nearly  $170,000.00. 

FIRST    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

The  first  permanent  church  organization  in 
Rockford  was  instituted  May  5,  1837,  and  was 
christened  the  First  Congregational  church.  Its 


the  end  of  the  first  year  the  membership  had 
been  increased  to  twenty-seven. 

Soon  after  its  organizatian  the  society  held 
its  meetings  in  the  stage  barn  on  the  East  side, 
but  in  the  summer  of  1838  the  trustees  began 
the  erection  of  a  frame  building  on  North  First 
street.  When  this  building  was  nearly  comple- 
ted it  was  learned  that  Kent  &  Brinkerhoff  had 
secured  eight  hundred  dollars  from  friends  in 
New  York  with  which  to  build  a  church.  In- 
stead of  turning  this  money  over  to  the  society 
they  proceeded  to  erect  a  building  on  the  West 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN 


SECOND  CONGREGATIONAL 

A    GROUP    OF    CHURCHES 


COURT  STREET  M.   E. 


founder  was  the  Rev.  John  Morrill,  who  came 
from  New  York  as  a  home  missionary  to  this 
county.  He  was  the  first  pastor  and  served  one 
year.  The  church  organization  took  place  at 
the  house  of  Israel  Morrill  on  the  West  side, 
and  there  were  nine  charter  members,  viz.  ; 
Rev.  John  Morrill,  Herman  B.  Potter,  Israel 
Morrill,  Richard  Morrill,  Elizabeth  P.  Morrill, 
Mary  I.  Morrill,  Sophia  N.  Morrill,  Minerva  Pot- 
ter and  Eunice  Brown. 

Two  weeks  later  the  names  of  Edward  Cat- 
ing,  Charles  Works,  Asa  Crosby,  Mary  Crosby 
and  Mary  Danforth  were  added  to  the  roll.  At 


side  of  the  river.  When  this  was  completed  it 
was  turned  over  to  the  society.  This  was  the 
first  church  edifice  in  Rockford. 

The  building  on  the  East  side  was  later  oc- 
cupied by  the  First  Methodist  society,  and  still 
later  was  known  as  the  old  seminary  building. 

In  1 846  the  society  dedicated  a  new  brick 
church  on  the  East  side.  This  building  was 
occupied  by  the  society  until  1870,  when  the 
present  church  edifice,  on  the  East  side,  was 
built. 

The  organ  now  in  use  in  the  First  Congre- 
gational church  was  presented  by  Rufus  Hatch, 


ROCKFORD 


of    New    York,    a   former   organist,    and    cost 
$4,500.00. 

The  names  of  the  pastors  of  this  church  are 
appended :  Revs.  John  Morrill,  Cyrus  L.  Wat- 
son, William  S.  Curtis,  D.  D.,  Oliver  W.  Nor- 
ton, Lansing  Porter,  Lewis  H.  Loss,  H.  M. 
Goodwin,  D.  D.,  Wilder  Smith,  Theodore  Clif- 
ton, William  W.  Leete  and  Frederick  H.  Bod- 
man, 

FIRST    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

The  First  church,  in  its  earlier  history,  was 
a  very  strong  and  wealthy  society,  but  its  mem- 
bership has  been  drawn  upon  heavily  in  the  or- 
ganization of  other  churches  and  its  resources 
thereby  curtailed. 

In  the  organization  of  the  Second  Congrega- 
tional church  in  1849,  forty- three  members  of 
the  First  church  withdrew  and  became  charter 
members  of  the  Second  church. 

Again  in  1 855  fourteen  members  withdrew 
to  become  charter  members  in  the  organization 
of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  church. 

The  cost  of  the  present  church  edifice  and 
its  furnishings  was  $50,000.00. 

In  1889  Mrs.  John  G.  Penfield  donated  a  lot 
to  the  society  upon  which  the  present  parsonage 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  $5,000,00. 

The  bell  in  the  church  edifice  was  donated 
to  the  society  by  George  W.  Smith  of  Guilford, 
and  cost  $2,000  00. 

The  total  amount  of  money  expended  by  this 
society  from  the  founding  of  the  church  in  1 837 
to  1903,  for  all  purposes,  is  approximately 
$400,000.00. 

The  present  membership  is  430. 

The  influence  of  this  church  for  good  in  the 
community  is  beyond  calculation.  It  has  not 
only  furnished  material  as  the  nuclei  for  the  or- 
ganization of  other  churches,  but  has  rendered 
financial  aid  to  other  and  weaker  churches, 
thereby  aiding  materially  in  the  beautifying  and 
christianizing  the  city. 

After  sixty-six  years  of  successful  work  this 
society  can  congratulate  itself  that  it  is  now  in  a 
flourishing  condition  and  free  from  debt.  The 
present  pastor  is  an  able  and  conscientious 
worker,  and  the  outlook  of  the  society  is  bright. 


FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

The  second  church  organization  in  Rockford 
was  that  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  which  was 
organized  at  the  house  of  Dr.  George  Haskell, 
December  22,  1838,  and  was  the  second  Bap- 
tist church  organized  in  Northern  Illinois. 

This  society  had  sixteen  charter  members, 
and  its  first  church  services  were  irregularly  held 
until  April,  1840,  when  it  was  resolved  to  hold 
them  regularly. 

The  society  was  legally  incorporated  in  De- 
cember, 1839,  and  steps  were  taken  to  build  a 
church.  This  building  was  located  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Peach  streets,  and  the  first  preach- 
er was  Prof.  Seth  S.  Whitman  of  Belvidere. 
His  first  sermon  was  delivered  May  9,  1841. 
The  first  stated  pastor  was  Rev.  Solomon  Knapp. 

The  notable  Elder  Jacob  Knapp  became  a 
member  of  this  church  in  November,  1848,  and 
supplied  its  pulpit  until  June,  1849.  As  a  result 
of  his  preaching  sixty-two  additions  were  made 
to  the  church  membership. 

Elder  Knapp  claimed  to  have  preached  about 
6,000  sermons,  baptized  4,000.  candidates,  and 
was  the  means  of  making  100,000  converts,  of 
whom  200  became  ministers. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  completed 
in  1850  at  a  cost  of  $7,500.00. 

Among  the  most  noted  pastors  of  this  society 
were  the  Rev.  Ichabod  Clark,  D.  D.,  who  served 
ten  years  and  largely  increased  the  church  mem- 
bership, and  Dr.  Thomas  Kerr  who  became  pas- 
tor June  1,  1860.  He  was  given  a  vacation  of 
three  months,  at  the  end  of  his  first  year,  in 
which  to  visit  Palestine.  In  1864,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Commission  and  visited 
the  army  at  the  front,  doing  much  efficient 
work. 

In  1866,  he  accepted  a  pastorate  at  Hani- 
bal,  Missouri,  but  returned  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  First  church  again  in  1869.  He  resigned 
this  pastorate  August  20,  1870. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  pastors  who 
have  served  this  society:  Revs.  Seth  S.  Whit- 
man, Jacob  Knapp,  Ichabod  Clark,  D.  D.,  A. 
B.  Stone,  Austin  Gibb,  C.  C.  Smith,  John  S. 
Mabie,  E.Anderson,  W.  A.  Stanton.  C.  H.  Mos- 
crip,  Theo.  G.  Scares,  Charles  W.  Barber  and 
W.  C.  Kiersted. 


66 


ROCKFORD 


The  First  Baptist  church  edifice  is  now  the 
oldest  church  building  in  the  city,  and  is  in 
thorough  repair.  It  was  remodeled  recently  at 
a  cost  of  $8,000.00. 

The  present  membership  is  320. 

This  society  has  expended  for  all  purposes 
since  its  organization  about  $151,500.00. 

COURT    STREET    METHODIST    CHURCH. 

Court  Street  Methodist  church  was  organ- 
ized January  1,  1852,  many  of  its  charter  mem- 
bers having  come  from  the  First  Methodist 
church  on  the  East  side  of  the  river. 

The  first  enrollment  was  but  forty,  which  has 
been  increased  to  845.  The  society  purchased 
a  site  for  a  church  edifice  near  the  corner  of 
State  and  Court  streets  in  1853  for  $350.00, 
and  the  building  was  completed  and  dedicated 
in  November,  1854,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.00. 
Rev.  G.  L.  S.  Stuff  preached  the  dedicatory 
sermon. 

In  1883,  this  society  had  outgrown  its  envir- 
onments, and  steps  were  taken  toward  building 
a  more  commodious  edifice.  The  present  site 
was  purchased  September  5,  1883,  and  a  build- 
ing committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Levi 
Rhoades,  S.  B.  Wilkins,  N.  E.  Lyman,  David 
Keyt  and  J.  G.  Chick  was  appointed.  Ground 
for  the  building  was  broken  in  September,  1884. 
The  corner  stone  was  laid  ( Bishop  Merrill  officiat- 
ing) in  August,  1885.  The  building  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  in  May,  1887,  at  which 
time  $29,000.00  was  subscribed,  thus  enabling 
the  society  to  dedicate  its  building  free  from 
debt. 

The  site  for  the  present  parsonage  was  pur- 
chased from  the  Horsman  estate  in  1884. 
Ground  for  the  parsonage  was  broken  in  August, 
and  the  house  completed  in  October  of  that  year. 
The  total  cost  of  the  present  church  and  par- 
sonage was  nearly  $82,000.00. 

Before  this  society  owned  a  church  building, 
services  were  held  in  Boyd's  Hall  on  State 
street.  During  its  first  year's  history,  140  mem- 
bers were  added  to  its  roll. 

In  August,  1857,  the  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence held  its  annual  session  in  the  old  Court 
Street  church,  which  is  said  to  have  been  one 


of  the  most  interesting  and  important  sessions 
ever  held  in  this  conference. 

The  meeting  is  of  note  on  account  of  its 
anti-slavery  resolutions  and  the  breaking  of 
ground  for  the  Wesleyan  Seminary,  which  was 
to  be  located  on  West  State  street.  A  tract  of 
land  was  purchased  for  this  school,  and  consid- 
erable money  raised  for  the  erection  of  build- 
ings, but  the  scheme  was  abandoned,  later,  and 
the  land  was  sold  in  lots. 

The  old  parsonage  was  purchased  in  1866 
for  $3,500.00. 

In  1881,  the  annual  conference  was  again 
held  in  the  old  church,  at  which  Bishop  Hurst 
presided.  Among  the  notable  events  of  this 
meeting  were  the  address  of  welcome  by  William 
McKinley  (who  is  still  living),  the  ••  heresy  "  in- 
vestigation, and  the  singing  of  the  doxology  by 
the  preachers  over  the  election  news  from  Indi- 
ana. In  1880  the  membership  had  increased 
to  506.  Court  Street  church  has  been  consid- 
ered by  the  Rock  River  Conference  as  the  chief 
church  outside  of  Chicago,  and  but  few  outrank 
her  there. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  this  church: 
Revs.  M.  Chatfield,  W.  F.  Stewart,  L.  A.  San- 
ford,  W.  P.  Gray  (twice),  James  R  Goodrich, 
W  P.  Daniels,  A.  B.  Taylor,  J.  H.  Vincent, 
F.  P.  Cleveland,  T.  C.  Clendenning,  L.  Mere- 
dith, W.  Aug.  Smith,  C.  E.  Mandeville,  T.  P. 
Marsh,  T.  R.  Strobridge,  P.  H.  Swift,  W.  A- 
Phillips,  W.  O.  Shepherd,  Fred  H.  Sheets, 
Robert  H.  Pooley  and  Frank  D.  Sheets.  The 
present  membership  is  825. 

The  society  has  expended  for  church  prop- 
erty $92,850.00. 

The  amount  raised  in  1902  for  all  purposes 
was  $7,531. 

The  total  amount  expended  for  all  purposes, 
since  the  organization  of  the  society,  is  about 
$300,000.00. 

EPWORTH    CHURCH. 

The  Epworth  church,  when  organized,  was 
known  as  the  Ninth  Street  church,  and  was  or- 
ganized as  a  feeder  to  the  First  Methodist  church. 

The  society  was  organized  in  the  spring  of 
1876  by  Rev.  G.  L.  Wiley,  who  was  then  pastor 
of  the  First  church.  It  had  fifteen  charter  mem- 


ROCKFORD 


67 


bers.  The  Swedish  Methodist  church  building 
was  purchased  for  $300.00  and  removed  to 
Ninth  street,  at  a  cost  of  $75.00. 

At  that  time  there  were  but  nine  houses  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  church. 

The  auspices  of  the  society  were  at  first  not 
very  bright,  but  it  has  had  a  steady  growth  and 
is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 


avenue,  and  the  name  changed  to  Epworth 
church. 

This  society  has  one  of  the  finest  orchestras 
in  the  city,  and  the  music  at  the  regular  services 
is  of  the  highest  order. 

The  present  membership  is  74. 

The  total  expenditures  for  all  purposes  is 
$24,375.00. 


ST.  JAMES  CHURCH  AND   RECTORY 


The  society  was  under  the  care  of  the  First 
church  during  the  first  year,  but  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  second  year  a  pastor  was  appointed 
by  the  conference,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
independent. 

In  1891  the  old  church  was  sold  for  $75.00 
and  removed  from  the  site  and  a  new  church 
edifice  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.00.  The 
new  church  was  removed  to  its  present  location 
at  the  corner  of  Parmelee  street  and  Fourteenth 


Following  are  the  names  of  its  pastors: 
Revs.  G.  L.  Wiley,  Joseph  Odgers,  W.  A.  Spen- 
cer, W.  H  Barrett,  A.  J.  Brill,  E.  J.  Rose, 
Joseph  Wardell,  H.  L.  Martin,  F.  R.  Hall,  J. 
L.  Gardner,  J.  W.  Irish,  J.  L.  Case,  Frank 
Milne,  Charles  Wentworth,  and  C.  F.  Kleihaur 
the  present  pastor. 

The  Sunday  school  has  a  membership  of 
155. 


68 


ROCKFORD 


STATE    STREET    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

The  State  Street  Baptist  church  was  form- 
ally organized  August  17,  1858,  with  thirty-four 
members.  These  had  taken  letters  from  the 
First  Baptist  church,  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  church  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 

Rev.  Edward  C  Mitchell  accepted  the  pas- 
torate of  the  church  September  14,  1858,  at  a 
salary  of  $300  in  cash,  $300  in  board,  and  $200 
additional  if  circumstances  permitted.  Prof. 
D  N.  Hood  was  secured  to  conduct  the  music. 

A  small  church  was  erected  at  the  corner 
of  State  and  North  Fifth  streets,  which  is  still 
standing.  This  churcn  was  dedicated  February 
2,  1860,  and  cost  $800.  This  society  first  took 
the  name  Second  Baptist  church,  which  was 
changed  to  its  present  name  October  26,  1858. 
The  house  now  occupied  was  dedicated  Novem- 
ber 18,  1868,  and  cost  $35,000. 

The  several  pastors  of  this  society  have  been 
Dr.  Edward  C.  Mitchell,  Revs.  Spencer  F. 
Holt,  Henry  C  Mabie,  E.  K.  Chandler,  A.  R. 
Medbury,  C.  R.  Lathrop,  J.  T.  Burhoe,  R.  F.  Y. 
Pierce,  Langley  B.  Sears,  and  J.  T.  Burhoe 
who  now  occupies  this  position  for  the  second 
time. 

The  present  membership  is  437.  The  total 
membership  is  1 ,400.  The  total  amount  of 
money  expended  by  the  society  for  all  purposes 
is  about  $200,000.  The  parsonage  was  pur- 
chased in  1883,  and  cost  $3,500.  The  society 
is  free  from  debt  and  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
The  church  edifice  is  being  thoroughly  refinished 
and  decorated  this  year,  at  a  cost  of  over  $5,000. 

SWEDISH    METHODIST    CHURCH. 

The  Swedish  Methodist  church  was  organ- 
ized at  the  home  of  P.  A.  Peterson,  on  Charles 
street,  January  30,  1861,  with  a  membership 
of  twelve  people. 

The  society  purchased  the  old  Westminster 
church  for  $600,  and  removed  it  to  First  avenue 
where  it  was  nicely  repaired  in  1868.  The 
present  handsome  brick  edifice  was  completed 
in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  and  was  dedicated 
by  Dr.  C.  E.  Mandeville.  The  present  parson- 
age was  built  in  1888  and  cost  $4,500. 

The  first  Swedish  Methodist  paper  ever 
published  in  the  world  is  the  Sandebudt  (Mes- 


senger), under  the  auspices  of  this  society  and 
made  its  appearance  July  18,  1862. 

P.  A  Peterson  is  the  only  charter  member 
of  this  society  now  living.  He  resides  in  the 
same  house,  and  is  about  eighty  years  old. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  this 
society:  Revs.  V.  Whitting,  Albert  Ericson, 
Peter  Newberg,  August  Westergren,  Oscar 
Shorgren,  Olof  Gunderson,  John  Lind,  A.  Y. 
Westergren,  S.  B.  Newman,  John  Weagren, 
S.  D.  Sorleine,  Herman  Lindskog.  N.  G.  Nel- 
son, J.  M.  Objerholm,  A.  Kahlin,  A.  Dahlberg, 
M.  Hess,  O.  F.  Lindstrom,  Richard  Cederberg, 
N.  M.  Liljegren,  N.  A.  Sorlin,  J.  H.  Johnson, 
and  P.  M.  Alfoin. 

This  society  has  expended  for  all  purposes 
nearly  $50,000.  The  present  church  member- 
ship is  200,  and  the  Sunday  school  has  250 
members.  The  society  is  out  of  debt  and  in 
a  prosperous  condition. 

FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Rockford 
was  formally  organized  in  the  Court  House 
July  8,  1854,  with  thirty-eight  members.  H.  C. 
Meslor  and  William  Shepherd  were  installed 
as  ruling  elders  in  October.  1855. 

The  society  held  its  services  in  various 
places  until  it  secured  a  house  of  worship  for 
itself.  The  first  place  of  worship  was  in  ihe 
abandoned  Congregational  church  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  and  then  in  Peak's  Hall.  In 
December,  1853,  services  were  held  in  Hors- 
man's  Hall,  and  later  in  Warner's  Hall.  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1854,  services  were  again  held  in  the 
Court  House  where -the  society  was  formally 
organized  as  stated. 

February  10,  1857,  Richard  Jackson,  was 
elected  to  serve  as  elder  and  was  installed 
February  22. 

The  choir,  by  vote  of  the  session,  was 
allowed  the  use  of  an  instrument  in  leading  the 
services  of  song  in  public  worship,  November 
25,  1855. 

Rev.  H.  A.  Brown  was  chosen  pastor  of  the 
church  February  10,  1857,  but  declined  the 
position,  and  Rev.  John  M.  Faris  was  chosen 
in  his  stead  January  1,  1858.  Rev.  Brown 


ROCKFORD 


69 


supplied  the  pulpit  until  his  successor  was 
appointed. 

September  4,  I860,  the  present  church  site 
was  bought  of  Michael  Burns  for  $14,000. 
March  17,  1862,  measures  were  set  on  foot  to 
raise  a  building  fund  and  N.  C.  Thompson  was 
made  depository  of  the  fund.  July  7,  1862, 
Mr.  Thompson  had  received  $206.49. 

The  society  was  occupying  at  this  time  what 
was  called  the  "Little  Brown  Church",  on  the 
coener  of  State  and  Winnebago  streets,  pur- 
chased of  the  Unitarians  for  $400.  It  was 
removed  from  the  corner  of  Court  and  Elm 
streets  to  its  present  location  and  occupied  by 
the  society  for  the  first  time  in  1856.  This 
building  has  since  been  torn  down. 

Rev.  Paris  resigned  the  pastorate  August  25, 
1862,  and  Rev.  Fauntleroy  Senour  of  Indianap- 
olis, was  installed  in  his  stead  as  pastor,  April 
15,  1863,  at  a  salary  of  $900. 

September  21,  1863,  resolutions  were 
adopted,  setting  forth  the  necessity  of  building 
a  new  church,  and  on  May  25,  1864,  a  building 
committee  was  appointed.  The  plan  was  to 
build  a  church,  costing  not  to  exceed  $15,000. 
October  30,  1864,  a  report  shows  that  $9,904 
had  been  subscribed. 

March  31,  1866.  Reverend  Senour,  after  a 
successful  pastorate  of  three  and  a  half  years, 
resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J  S. 
Grimes.  The  membership  of  the  society  was 
now  187. 

WESTMINSTER    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  Westminster  Presbyterian  church  was 
organized  as  an  offshoot  from  the  First  Congre- 
gational church,  January  3,  1856,  many  of  its 
charter  members  having  come  from  the  latter 
society.  The  meeting  for  organization  was  held 
in  the  old  First  Congregational  church  at  the 
corner  of  First  and  Walnut  streets,  where  an 
engine  house  now  stands.  Twenty-two  mem- 
bers were  enrolled  at  this  meeting. 

Meetings  were  first  held  In  the  old  court 
house  on  North  First  street.  A  chapel  was 
erected  that  year  on  the  present  church  site  at 
a  cost  of  $600.00,  which  was  occupied  in  the 
fall.  This  soon  proved  to  be  too  small  and  Me- 
tropolitan Hall  was  utilized  for  church  purposes 


until  the  present  structure  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy, which  was  completed  in  December,  1858, 
and  cost  $12.000.00. 

Of  the  charter  members  three  are  now  liv- 
ing, and  are  Joel  B.  Potter,  at  the  age  of  ninety, 
Mrs.  Frances  E.  Wheat,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven,  and  Mrs.  E.  T.  Cleveland,  aged  seventy. 

The  names  of  950  members  have  been 
placed  upon  the  rolls  of  this  society  since  its  or- 
ganization. 

The  present  membership  is  285.  The  en- 
rollment of  the  Sunday  school  is  86. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  this  so- 
ciety: Revs.  Morrison  Muggins,  L.  H.  Johnson, 
Charles  Mattoon,  Charles  A.  Williams,  W.  S. 
Curtis,  D.  D.,  J.  H  Ritchie.  T.  S.  Scott,  S. 
L.  Conde,  W.  M.  Campbell,  W.  L.  Wilcox  and 
John  Henry  Boose. 

The  membership  of  this  society  is  not  large, 
but  it  has  never  asked  nor  accepted  outside  aid. 
It  has  been  a  liberal  giver,  and  can  be  relied 
upon  to  do  its  share  of  benevolent  work. 

The  foundation  for  the  new  church  edifice 
was  laid  in  1868  and  the  building  was  dedicated 
by  the  Reverend  Grimes  December  20,  1868. 
The  present  lecture  room  was  built  in  1872  at  a 
cost  of  $  1 ,000,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  J. 
Leyenberger  who  commenced  his  labors  for  the 
society  March  6,  1870,  and  continued  until  the 
spring  of  1874.  Rev.  James  Cruickshanks  be- 
came the  pastor  of  the  church  December  23, 
1874.  The  report  shows  that  at  this  time  the 
new  church  front  had  been  completed  at  a  cost 
of  $10,000. 

Rev.  J.  K.  Fowler  began  his  pastorate  the 
first  Sunday  in  January,  1878.  In  1881  the 
church  was  remodeled  and  improved,  at  a  cost 
of  $5,145.  At  this  time  $50,000  had  been  ex- 
pended in  building  operations. 

Rev.  John  R.  Sutherland,  D.  D.,  became 
the  pastor  in  1887,  and  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  Harkness,  and  he  in  turn  by  the 
present  pastor,  Rev.  B.  E.  S.  Ely,  who  will  cel- 
ebrate his  first  decade  in  the  service  in  1904. 

The  society  has  expended  for  all  purposes 
about  $150,000. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  society  to  build  a 
new  church  edifice  during  the  year  of  its  first 
semi-centennial,  which  occurs  in  1904.  The 


ROC  K  FO  R  D 


sum  subscribed  for  this  purpose  is  now  about 
$27,OCO. 

The  present  membership  is  now  559,  and 
the  society  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Rockford  was  incorporated  September  20,  1842, 
with  five  members,  as  follows:  Horace  Miller, 
James  B.  Martin,  Samuel  Gregory,  Daniel 
Beers,  and  Willard  Wheeler. 


which  to  build  a  church,  and  $2,312  were 
subscribed.  February  25,  1846,  the  ground  for 
the  location  of  the  church  was  purchased  for 
$325.  This  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  Cen- 
tennial church  and  parsonage  and  which  was 
occupied  by  the  First  church  and  parsonage. 
The  First  church  was  completed  and  dedicated 
in  1848,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  James  E. 
Wilson.  March  13,  1848,  a  second  subscrip- 
tion for  $2,069  was  secured,  making  a  total  of 
$4,381.  The  total  cost  of  the  church  was 
about  $7,000. 


FIRST    CONGREGATIONAL  EPISCOPAL 

A    GROUP    OF    CHURCHES 


ST.    MARY  S 


Preaching  services  had  been  held  by  various 
Methodist  clergymen  in  private  houses  at  vari- 
ous times,  several  years  previously. 

A  parsonage  was  built  in  the  summer  of 
1838,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  the  lower 
floor  of  which  was  used  as  a  chapel,  during  the 
ministry  of  Rev  John  Crummer. 

The  first  Methodist  service  held  in  the 
county  was  at  the  home  of  Henry  Enoch,  in 
Guilford,  Reverend  Pillsbury  preaching  the 
sermon. 

December  6,  1845,  subscription  papers  were 
started  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  with 


A  unique  bit  of  history  reveals  the  fact  that 
the  present  beautiful  pulpit  in  the  Centennial 
church  was  made  from  the  lumber  designed  for 
the  coffin  of  the  first  Methodist  class  leader  in 
Rockford,  Lyford  Gregory. 

In  1858  the  conference  changed  the  name 
of  the  church  to  that  of  First  church.  May  19, 
1876,  the  First  and  Third  Street  churches 
were  united  under  the  name  Centennial  church, 
hence  both  of  these  churches  are  now  but 
matters  of  history. 

The  Third  Street  church  was  organized 
January  9,  1858,  as  an  offshoot  from  the  First 


ROCKFORD 


church,  with  eighty  members.  A  site  was  pur- 
chased on  North  Third  street  for  $1,200,  and  a 
church  was  erected  by  John  Early  in  1858  at 
a  cost  of  $4,000.  This  church  was  dedicated 
October  9,  1858,  by  Rev.  Hooper  Crews.  A 
parsonage  was  built  on  the  same  site  in  1859, 
at  a  cost  of  $600.  In  1866  the  church  building 
was  enlarged  at  a  cost  of  $1,800.  In  1871  a 
parsonage  was  bought  on  East  State  street  for 
$3.000,  and  the  parsonage  on  Third  street  was 
sold  for  $  1 ,300.  After  a  successful  career  of 
eighteen  years,  as  has  been  stated,  this  society 
reunited  with  the  parent  church  under  the  name 
of  the  Centennial  church,  in  1876. 

What  is  now  the  Centennial  church  has 
enjoyed  marked  success  during  its  history  of 
sixty-one  years.  It  has  had  the  ministrations 
of  thirty-eight  pastors.  Its  present  membership 
is  500.  The  total  cost  of  the  church  building 
is  $36,799.38,  and  the  cost  of  maintenance 
and  other  expenses  during  the  sixty-one  years, 
or  life  of  the  church,  would  reach  fully  $1 85,000, 
making  a  grand  total  of  $221 ,799.38. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  pastors  who 
have  served  this  church:  Dr.  Arnold,  Wm. 
Caddis,  L.  S.  Walker,  Nathan  Jewett.  S.  H. 
Stocking,  John  Crummer,  Silas  Boiler,  Richard 
Blanchard,  Nathaniel  P  .Heath,  C.  D.  Cahoon, 
John  Lucock,  N.  P.  Heath,  J.  C.  Park, 
Wm.  P.  Jones,  Francis  A.  Reed,  Wm.  Tasker, 
James  Baume,  Hooper  Crews,  Lewis  Anderson, 
F.  A.  Reed,  Joseph  Hartwell,  A.  P.  Mead, 
David  Teed,  Joseph  Odgers,  Wm.  H.  Gloss, 
Giles  L.  Wiley,  Hooper  Crews,  Wm.  A. 
Spencer,  Dr.  G.  R.  Vanhorne,  Wm.  A.  Smith, 
Martin  E.  Cady,  Fred  Porter,  J.  S.  Bell,  J.  R. 
Hamilton,  John  Hall,  W.  W.  Painter,  John 
Thompson  and  Harlow  V.  Holt,  the  present 
pastor.  The  Rev.  Charles  Cahoon  preached 
only  one  sermon  after  coming  to  this  charge, 
when  he  died. 

Francis  A.  Reed  died  in  1902.  Wm.  A. 
Smith  died  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev  Martin 
E.  Cady.  James  Hartwell  died  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  A.  P.  Mead. 

This  society  is  free  from  debt  and  is  gaining 
renewed  strength  daily.  Large  additions  have 
been  made  to  the  membership  under  the  pas- 
torate of  Reverend  Holt,  and  the  church  edifice 


is  being  modernized  and  thoroughly  repaired. 
The  present  improvements  will  cost  about 
$3,000. 

The  society  is  free  from  debt  and  is  in  a 
very  prosperous  condition. 

WINNEBAGO    STREET    CHURCH. 

The  Winnebago  Street  church  had  its  origin 
in  a  Sunday  school,  organized  May  20,  1856, 
which  held  its  sessions  first  in  a  grove  near  the 
river  bank,  and  later  in  the  Kent  school  by  invi- 
tation of  the  trustees.  It  is  a  matter  of  note 
that  during  the  time  the  sessions  were  held  in 
the  grove,  they  were  not  interrupted  by  rain 
or  storm. 

The  school  was  under  the  supervision  of 
Court  Street  church,  and  as  Winnebago  Street 
church  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Sunday  school, 
this  church  is  a  daughter  of  Court  Street  church 
and  a  grand  daughter  of  the  First  church,  now 
the  Centennial. 

The  church  was  organized  March  4,  1864, 
at  the  home  of  Israel  Sovereign,  with  twenty- 
three  members.  The  cornerstone  of  the  present 
church  edifice  was  laid  August  24,  1864,  and 
the  building  was  dedicated  February  12,  1865, 
by  Rev.  Thomas  M.  Eddy,  and  cost  $8,000. 
The  parsonage  was  built  in  1 867  and  cost  $  1 ,250. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  pastors  who 
have  served  this  society  :  Revs.  Robert  Bentley, 
William  D.  Skelton,  Henry  L.  Martin,  John  M. 
Caldwell.  F.  A.  Reed,  R.  S.  Cantine,  Win.  S. 
Harrington,  W.  H.  Smith,  J.  M.  Clendenning, 
Wm.  H.  Haight,  Henry  Lea,  J.  W.  Richards, 
F.  F.  Farmiloe,  M.  L.  Norris,  and  F.  E.  Hard- 
ing, the  present  pastor.  The  present  membership 
is  about  300. 

The  expenditures  of  the  society  for  all 
purposes  have  been  about  $60,000. 

The  church  observed  its  thirty-ninth  anni- 
versary on  June  14,  1903,  which  was  by  far  the 
most  notable  day  in  its  history.  It  was  not  only 
a  day  of  jubilee,  but  one  of  ingathering  of  souls. 

Rev.  Joseph  W.  Powell  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
had  charge  of  the  meetings  and  secured  sub- 
scriptions to  the  amount  of  more  than  $12,000 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  church  edifice 
which  will  stand  on  the  present  church  site. 
Work  on  the  new  structure  will  begin  this  year 


ROCKFORD 


and  when  completed  will  cost  about  $20,000. 
South  Rockford  will  then  have  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  church  edifices  in  the  city. 

SECOND    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH. 

The  Second  Congregational  church  of  Rock- 
ford  was  organized  in  1849,  with  forty  seven 
members,  nearly  all  of  whom  had  taken  letters 
from  the  First  Congregational  .church,  on  the 
east  side. 

A  meeting  for  preliminary  organization  was 
held  in  the  school  house,  on  the  west  side  Octo- 
ber 30,  1849,  at  which  it  was  determined  to 
hold  a  meeting  November  14,1849,  for  perma- 
nent organization.  At  this  meeting  articles  of 
faith  and  rules  of  government  were  adopted,  and 
Rev.  Dexter  Clary  of  Beloit,  declared  the 
Second  Congregational  church  of  Rockford  duly 
organized. 

The  society  purchased  and  occupied  the 
vacant  building  formerly  occupied  by  the  First 
Congregational  church.  In  1851  this  building 
was  found  to  be  too  small  and  its  capacity  was 
increased  by  the  addition  of  forty  feet  to  its 
length. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  church  as  early  as 
1855,  made  the  necessity  for  more  room  imper- 
ative and  the  building  of  a  new  church  was 
determined  upon.  A  committee  was  appointed 
to  carry  out  this  determination.  A  site  at  the 
corner  of  South  Church  and  Chestnut  streets 
was  purchased  of  L.  H.  Rood  for  $3,000. 
Several  plans  for  the  building  were  submitted 
to  the  committee,  among  which  was  that  of 
David  and  James  Keyt  of  Piqua,  Ohio.  After 
careful  consideration  of  the  plans  and  the 
reliability  of  the  architects,  the  contract 
for  the  construction  of  the  church  was 
awarded  to  the  Ohio  parties  for  $23,478.78. 
The  church  was  completed  and  dedicated 
December  1.  1858.  A  pipe  organ  was  placed 
in  the  church  in  1863,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 

The  society  purchased  a  parsonage  in  1888, 
at  a  cost  of  $9,000. 

The  growth  of  this  society  kept  pace  with 
that  of  the  city  and  in  1 889  the  matter  of  build- 
ing a  new  and  larger  church  edifice  was  taken 
up.  For  this  purpose  a  subscription  list  was 


started  with  the  intention  of  raising  $80,000. 
The  list  was  headed  with  a  $10,000  subscription 
by  Ralph  Emerson,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
amount  was  practically  provided  for.  A  site 
was  purchased  at  the  corner  of  North  Church 
and  North  streets.  The  corner  stone  was  laid 
in  1 89 1 ,  and  the  building  was  completed  and 
dedicated  May  8,  1892.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  church  events  in  the  history  of 
Rockford.  The  building  was  one  of  the  finest 
church  edifices  in  the  west,  but  it  met  a  fateful 
day  on  Tuesday,  February  20,  1894,  when  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  destruction  of  this 
beautiful  church  was  felt  to  be  a  public  calamity, 
but  the  society  did  not  despair.  Immediate 
steps  were  taken  to  rebuild.  The  work  was 
pushed  vigorously  forward  and  on  the  second  day 
of  the  following  December  the  church  was 
rededicated. 

The  pipe  organ  destroyed  with  the  church, 
cost  $8,000,  and  the  present  organ  was  priced 
at  $9.000,  but  was  placed  in  the  church  for 
$8.500.  It  is  a  matter  of  note  that  Mrs. 
Chandler  Starr  has  given  twenty-seven  years  of 
service  as  organist,  to  this  society. 

The  present  membership  of  this  society  is 
815.  The  total  membership  is  1,681.  The 
society  has  expended  for  real  estate,  buildings, 
current  expenses  and  benevolence  more  than 
$500,000.  Its  net  membership  is  805. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  the 
church:  Revs.  Lansing  Porter,  Joseph  Emerson, 
J.  E.  Walton,  M.  P.  Kinney,  Frank  P.  Wood- 
bury,  W.  M.  Barrows,  W.  C.  Haskell,  and 
Peter  M.  Snyder,  an  average  service  of  nearly 
seven  years. 

Sixteen  different  persons  have  served  as 
deacons,  one  of  which,  W.  A.  Dickerman, 
served  forty-three  years,  and  Benjamin  Blake- 
man  forty  years 

Seven  different  persons  have  served  as  clerk 
and  treasurer,  and  eight  as  clerk.  Five  have 
served  as  treasurer.  Thomas  D.  Robertson 
was  treasurer  for  thirty-three  years. 

Thirty-three  different  persons  have  served 
as  trustees,  of  which  G.  A.  Sanford  served 
thirty  years. 


ROCKFORD 


73 


AFRICAN    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

This  is  the  first  church  for  colored  people 
established  in  Rockford.  It  was  instituted  in 
1891,  with  seven  members  and  has  steadily 
increased  in  numbers  to  fifty-two. 

At  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  this 
church  many  of  the  colored  people  were  allied 
to  other  churches,  but  have  gradually  withdrawn 
from  these  and  united  with  their  own  people. 

The  society  purchased  a  site  of  55  feet  front 
on  Elm  street  and  1 55  feet  on  South  Winnebago 
street,  upon  which  is  a  building  used  for  church 
purposes.  The  building  has  a  seating  capacity  of 
135  and  is  usually  well  attended  at  the  regular 
services.  The  property  cost  the  society  $2,000 
upon  which  a  debt  remains  of  $1 ,085.  This  the 
society  hopes  to  pay  in  the  near  future. 

The  Sunday  school  has  an  average  attend- 
ance of  thirty-five  pupils. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  this 
society.  Revs.  F.  B.  Jones,  J.  C.  Anderson, 
Richmond  Taylor,  Lewis  Dixon,  Sandy  Mc- 
Dowell, P.  P.  Taylor  and  S.  B.  Moore,  the 
present  pastor,  who  came  in  October,  1900. 

The  total  amount  of  money  expended  for  all 
purposes  is  about  $5,000. 

ST.  JAMES    CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 

St.  James  congregation  was  organized  in 
1850,  and  in  the  following  year  Rev.  John 
Hampston  was  appointed  pastor  by  Bishop 
Van  de  Velde.  In  1852  Father  Hampston 
erected  a  small  wooden  church  and  frame 
dwelling  at  the  corner  of  North  Second  and 
Prairie  streets.  It  was  not  until  1 866,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  S.  O'Neill,  that  a 
structure  adequate  to  the  needs  of  the  growing 
congregation,  was  built  on  the  adjoining  lot. 

This  parish  originally  included  the  eastern 
half  of  Winnebago  county  and  a  part  of  Ogle 
county,  but  now  contains  four  churches,  the  most 
important  of  which  is  St.  Mary's,  in  West  Rock- 
ford,  which  was  built  in  1885  by  the  Rev.  E.  H. 
Murphy,  now  of  Chicago. 

St.  James  church  has  had  the  services  of 
the  following  pastors:  Revs.  John  Hampston, 
George  Hamilton,  William  Lambert,  J.  Bulger, 
John  P.  Donelan,  J.  S.  O'Neill,  Joseph  Mc- 


Mahon,  J.  T.  Butler  and  James  J.  Flaherty,  the 
present  pastor. 

The  parochial  residence  was  built  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Butler  in  1873,  and  the  school,  a  fine 
brick  structure,  by  the  present  pastor,  in  1891. 
The  Dominican  Sisters  have  charge  of  the 
school. 

The  present  church  was  built  in  1866,  and 
cost  $20,000.  Improvements  are  being  made, 
which  when  completed  will  bring  the  total  cost 
up  to  $35,000.  The  parochial •  school  cost 
$17,000,  and  the  residence  cost  $8,000,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  $60,000  for  real  estate  and 
improvements. 

For  maintenance  and  various  church  pur- 
poses the  society  has  expended  $252,837,  mak- 
ing a  grand  total  of  $312,837  expenditure. 

Father  James  J.  Flaherty  has  faithfully 
served  this  society  during  the  last  eighteen  years 
and  has  earned  the  kind  regards  of  not  only  his 
parishoners  but  of  the  people  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. Rev.  Frank  P.  Murphy  is  serving  as 
assistant  to  Father  Flaherty. 

CENTRAL    CHRISTIAN    CHURCH. 

The  Central  Christian  church  is  one  of  the 
more  recently  organized  societies,  and  has  made 
rapid  progress.  With  twenty-three  members 
and  an  unauspicious  beginning  November  20, 
1898,  it  has  had  a  most  wonderful  and  success- 
ful career. 

The  noted  evangelist,  E.  C.  Prather,  organ- 
ized the  society  after  holding  a  series  of  meetings 
in  1898.  In  1899  Dr.  D.  R.  Lucas,  national 
chaplain  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  was  called  to  the 
pastorate,  and  during  his  pastorate  meetings 
were  held  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hall  In  Septem- 
ber, 1900,  Rev.  O.  F.  Jordon  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  in  which  capacity  he  is  still  serving. 

April  14,  1901,  the  society  dedicated  its 
first  house  of  worship,  at  the  corner  of  South 
Church  and  Chestnut  streets.  On  May  1 ,  1903, 
the  membership  had  increased  to  145.  Its  total 
membership  represents  179  individuals.  The 
society  has  expended  for  all  purposes  $8,510. 

FIRST    SWEDISH    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

The  First  Swedish  Lutheran  church  was 
organized  January  15,  1854,  with  a  membership 
of  seventy-seven.  The  first  church  building 


74 


ROCKFORD 


was  a  wooden  structure  and  cost  $  1 ,600.  The 
church  was  dedicated  November  23,  1856, 
by  Dr.  Hasselquist  preaching  the  dedicatory 
sermon. 

Rev.  A.  Andren  was  called  to  the  first  pas- 
torate, and  began  his  service  in  August,  1856. 
Reverend  Andren  built  a  parsonage  on  the 
church  lot,  which  he  sold  to  the  society  upon 
the  termination  of  his  pastorate,  in  1860.  The 
seating  capacity  of  the  first  church  was  about 
300.  The  growth  of  the  society  increased  so 
rapidly  that  more  room  became  a  necessity  and 
the  construction  of  a  brick  church  on  the  present 
church  site,  was  begun  in  1868  and  completed 
in  1869,  at  a  cost  of  $23,000. 

This  edifice  also  proved  to  be  inadequate  for 
the  needs  of  the  society  as  early  as  1883,  when 
the  present  church  was  built.  The  old  structure 
was  removed  and  its  place  occupied  by  the 
present  beautiful  building  which  cost  $76,000, 
and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  about  2,000. 

This  society  has  had  a  remarkable  growth 
from  its  organization  to  the  present  time.  The 
original  membership  of  seventy  seven  has  been 
increased  to  2,200  during  the  forty-nine  years 
of  its  history.  The  original  membership  of  Zion 
Lutheran  church  came  from  this  church,  but 
this  did  not  seem  to  retard  its  growth.  The 
society  is  free  from  debt  and  is  contemplating 
the  building  of  a  fine  parsonage,  which  will 
doubtless  be  accomplished  in  1904. 

This  society  will  celebrate  its  semi-centennial 
anniversary  in  February,  1904,  which  occasion 
will  be  one  of  the  most  important  in  its  history. 

The  following  pastors  have  served  this 
church:  Revs.  A.  Andren,  A.  W.  Dahlsten, 
G.  Peters,  L.  Johnston.  Jarl  Haff,  and  J.  F. 
Seedoff.  The  Reverend  Peters  served  contin- 
uously for  twenty-two  and  a  half  years,  and  the 
Reverend  Johnston  eight  years.  Reverend  Haff 
died  in  1896,  after  serving  about  one  year. 
The  present  pastor.  Reverend  Seedoff,  succeeded 
the  Reverend  Haff,  and  has  served  continuously 
since. 

In  1902  the  society  expended  for  all  pur- 
poses $  1 1 ,000,  and  the  total  expenditures  during 
its  work  of  nearly  fifty  years  will  reach  the  large 
sum  of  $360,000. 

The  organ  in  this  church  cost  $3,500.  The 
society  is  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  flour- 


ishing in  the  state.  The  attendance  from 
Sunday  to  Sunday  has  a  large  representation  of 
men,  and  the  average  attendance  is  about  1 ,800. 

TRINITY    ENGLISH    LUTHERAN    CHURCH. 

The  Trinity  English  Lutheran  church,  located 
on  North  First  street,  is  one  of  the  later  additions 
to  the  large  number  of  beautiful  church  edifices 
of  the  city.  It  is  a  brick  structure  and  cost 
$18,500. 

This  church  society  was  organized  March 
10,  1895,  with  only  forty  members  Services 
were  first  held  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  and 
later  in  the  old  Christian  church.  In  1898  the 
society  purchased  the  old  church  property  for 
$3,400.  The  old  church  edifice  was  torn  down 
and  the  erection  of  the  present  church  building 
was  commenced  in  1900.  The  building  was 
completed  and  dedicated  December  16,  1900. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Maans  was  the  organizer  of 
this  society  and  was  its  pastor  until  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  H.  M. 
Bannen,  who  took  up  the  work  April  1 ,  1 896. 

The  society  has  expended  about  $22,000  in 
its  church  property  and  the  total  amount  of 
money  raised  for  all  purposes  during  its  history 
will  reach  $42.000. 

The  society  is  free  from  debt  and  in  a  pros- 
perous condition.  The  total  membership  is  490. 
The  Sunday  school  is  one  of  the  important 
features  in  the  work  of  this  society  and  has  an 
enrollment  of  650. 

ST.  MARY'S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  church  was  organized 
in  1885  by  the  Rev.  E.  H.  Murphy,  now  of 
Chicago.  This  church  was  formed  by  an  over- 
flow membership  from  St.  James  church  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  but  is  now  one  of  the  most 
important  churches  in  the  diocese.  The  present 
membership  is  about  3,000  and  is  constantly 
growing. 

Since  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  E.  A. 
Murphy,  there  have  been  the  following  pastors : 
Revs.  M.  McLaughlin,  M.  McMann,  S.  P. 
Byrne,  R.  Solan,  John  Harrington,  Paul  Burke, 
and  John  Darsey,  A.  Carr  and  Stephen  Woulf, 
assistant  priests. 


ROCKFORD 


75 


The  site  for  St.  Mary's  church  cost  $8,500. 
The  church  building  cost  $50,000,  and  the 
parochial  residence  cost  $3,500,  making  a  total 
value  of  $62,000  for  society  property.  For 
maintenance  and  other  objects  about  $150,000 
has  been  expended.  Adding  this  to  church 
property  and  $212,000  represents  the  total  ex- 
penditures of  money  by  this  society,  for  all 
purposes. 

Rev.  M.  McLaughlin  died  while  serving  as 
pastor. 

GRACE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

Grace  Methodist  church  is  one  of  the  later 
church  societies  which  was  organized  in  West 
Rockford  in  the  fall  of  1891.  This  thriving  ad- 
dition to  the  city  had  reached  a  point  when  many 
of  its  citizens  felt  the  need  of  more  convenient 
church  privileges,  and  the  organization  of  the 
Grace  church  was  the  outcome  of  this  condition. 

A  meeting  was  called  and  the  desire  for  the 
organization  of  a  Methodist  society  prevailed. 
The  charter  membership  numbered  thirty-nine. 


Some  of  these  were  from  other  churches,  but 
this  society  cannot  be  considered  as  an  offshoot 
from  any  other. 

The  site  for  the  church  edifice  cost  $1 ,800. 
The  building  cost  originally  $5,500,  but  additions 
were  recently  made  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  The 
parsonage  property  cost  $2,500. 

The  church  was  organized  under  the  admin- 
istration of  Presiding  Elder  Haight,  and  the  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sheets  who  served 
five  years.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Frank 
McNamer,  who  served  two  years.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev. 'J.  B.  Robinson  and  he  in 
turn  by  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Ream.  The  present 
pastor,  Rev.  E.  K.  D.  Hester,  took  up  the  work 
in  1902. 

The  society  is  in  a  prosperous  condition  and 
is  constantly  growing.  The  present  membership 
is  280. 

The  total  value  of  church  property  is  $1  1 ,800, 
The  society  has  expended  for  all  purposes  about 
$42,000. 


ROCKFORD 


DR.  BROUGHTON'S  SANITARIUM. 


Dr.  Broughton's  Sanitarium  for  the  treat- 
ment and  care  of  those  suffering  from  alcohol, 
other  drug  habits  and  special  nervous  troubles, 
has  maintained  its  hold  on  first  place  in  its  field 
and  is  widening  its  beneficent  work  every  day. 


ist  in  the  treatment  of  nervous  diseases  and 
those  attributable  to  drug  and  alcoholic  addic- 
tions, he.  was  most  cordially  assisted  by  his  fel- 
low physicians  having  patients  requiring  such 
treatment.  During  his  long  service  at  Dwight 


DR.   BROUGHTON'S  SANITARIUM 


About  three  years  ago,  Dr.  Broughton,  who  had 
for  many  years  previous  been  employed  by  Dr. 
Keeley  at  his  Dwight  Institute,  leased  Dr.  Ran- 
som's Sanitarium  property  located  on  Rock 
river,  opposite  Harlem  Park,  and  began  the  work 
he  had  so  well  fitted  himself  for. 

A  physician  of  the  most  ethical  kind  himself, 
and  having  earned  a  high  reputation  as  a  special- 


he  formed  an  acquaintance  which  encirled  the 
globe.  He  found  that  he  had  friends  in  every 
civilized  country  who  were  glad  to  direct  afflicted 
ones  to  him. 

This  recognition  resulted  in  a  greater  num- 
ber of  patients  coming  to  him  than  he  could  ac- 
commodate in  the  up-river  home,  so  he  pur- 
chased the  Keyt  mansion  on  the  Rock  river,  just 


ROCKFORD 


77 


south  of  the  city,  opening  the  new  place  in  June, 
1902. 

The  Keyt  residence  has  long  been  famed  for 
its  elegance  in  architecture,  its  spacious  rooms 
and  costly  construction.  For  many  years  it 
stood  as  a  model  of  fine  residence  building.  It 
originally  cost  $30,000.00,  and  this  amount  has 


finished  differently  and  furnished  in  home  like 
fashion.  The  first  and  second  floors  were  also 
redecorated  throughout,  and  the  basement  was 
entirely  made  over  for  the  opening  of  a  large 
dining  room,  club  room,  kitchen  and  other  rooms. 
The  beautifully  carved  wood  work  was  refinished 
all  over  the  house  and  restored  to  the  beauty 


AN    INTERIOR    IN    DR.    BROUGHTON'S    SANITARIUM 


been  increased  by  later  improvements,  before 
Dr.  Broughton  purchased  it. 

He  immediately  began  a  series  of  expendi- 
tures which  were  to  provide  every  convenience. 
No  expense  was  spared  in  refitting  the  home  for 
Sanitarium  purposes. 

The  great  ball-room  on  the  third  floor  was 
partitioned  for  sleeping  rooms.  Each  room  was 


which  it  mirrored  when  the  house  was  first 
opened.  A  complete  system  of  plumbing,  hot 
water,  heating  and  electric  lighting  appliances 
was  installed. 

The  grounds  which  cover  twelve  acres  and 
support  the  most  varied  and  well  cultured  forest 
in  this  section  were  carefully  groomed. 


ROCKFORD 


The  doctor  never  paused  in  his  work  until 
he  had  placed  the  whole  in  the  state  of  perfec- 
tion he  had  always  hoped  to  attain. 

While  the  premises  are  less  than  two  miles 
from  the  center  of  the  city,  they  are  so  nestled 
among  the  trees  and  shrubbery  that  the  utmost 
seclusion  is  insured,  and  one  is  as  totally  apart 
from  city  life  as  in  a  dense,  remote  woodland. 


straint,  though  the  clock  work  of  the  controlling 
power  moves  incessantly. 

Patients  from  every  state  in  the  union  come 
to  the  Sanitarium.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  hear 
one  say  that  he  has  traveled  a  thousand  miles  to 
reach  Rockford. 

Dr.  Broughton's  methods  for  treating  his 
special  class  of  diseases  are  confined  to  purely 


bOUTH    MAIN    STREET    IN    FRONT    OF    BROUGHTON'S    SANITARIUM 


The  charm  and  quiet  of  the  place  is  especially 
desirable  in  the  treatment  of  nervous  diseases.' 
The  management  of  the  Sanitarium  is  per- 
fect. Dr.  and  Mrs.  Broughton  seem  fitted  by 
nature  for  the  care  of  such  an  institution.  The 
strictest  discipline  is  maintained  in  so  kindly  a 
way,  that  the  place  has  none  of  the  air  of  re- 


medical  lines.  He  is  not  exploiting  any  proprie- 
tary remedy  of  any  nature,  kind  or  description. 
His  is  but  a  hospital  for  the  treatment  of  habit- 
ual diseases  along  the  lines  any  other  specialist 
would  act. 

Unfortunately  the  recruits  to  this  institution 
do  not  seem  to  grow  less.     The  number  he  has 


ROCKFORD 


79 


cured  does  not  seem  to  diminish  the  supply,  for 
the  rooms  are  continuously  occupied. 

The  present  large  building,  which  at  one 
time  appeared  so  roomy,  is  now  too  small  for 
his  needs.  If  he  decides  to  extend  his  care  to 
all  who  apply  for  relief,  another  building  will  be 
required. 


The  Broughton  Sanitarium  is  one  of  the  in- 
stitutions of  which  Rockford  people  are  justly 
proud.  Its  high  professional  character,  coupled 
with  the  personal  worth  of  its  proprietor,  has  won 
the  respect  of  all. 


AN    INTERIOR    IN    DR.    BROUGHTON'S    SANITARIUM 


8o 


RO  C  K  FO  R  D 


SCHMAUSS   COMPANY. 


Leonard  and  Joseph  Schmauss  successors 
to  Leonard  Schmauss,  their  father,  in  the  meat 
business,  have  established  a  large  wholesale  and 
retail  trade.  They  buy  and  slaughter  only  the 
best  stock  the  market  affords.  By  this  means, 
together  with  upright  and  honorable  dealing,  they 


They  give  employment  to  fifty  people  in  the 
different  departments  of  their  business  and  are 
making  additions  and  improvements  to  their 
facilities  each  year.  The  volume  of  business 
is  constantly  increasing  and  their  customers  are 
found  in  towns  many  miles  from  Rockford. 


have  built  up  a  large  business.  Their  market  at 
3!3  East  State  street,  is  shown  in  the  cut,  and 
is  the  finest  and  most  conveniently  and  thoroughly 
equipped  place  of  business  of  the  kind  in  the 
city,  or  in  this  section  of  the  country. 

Besides  this  central  place  of  business,  they 
operate  fine  markets  on  West  State,  South  Main, 
and  Seventh  streets,  in  this  city. 


There  is  scarcely  a  town  in  northern  Illinois 
or  southern  Wisconsin  that  does  not  get  con- 
siderable of  its  meat  supply  from  Schmauss 
Company. 

Schmauss  Brothers  own  a  large  amount  of 
city  and  landed  property,  and  are  foremost  in 
making  permanent  improvements  and  in  beauti- 
fying the  city. 


ROCKFORD 


ft, 
si 


SKANDIA  HARDWARE  COMPANY. 


This  institution  was  established  October  10, 
1 892,  and  is  one  of  the  youngest,  and  still  one 
of  the  most  prominent  industries  in  the  city.  It 
is  located  at  327-329  Seventh  street.  The 
store  itself  is  a  beautiful  and  attractive  business 
place. 


hardware,  tinware,  builders'  hardware,  machin- 
ists tools  and  everything  found  in  a  first  class 
up  to-date  hardware  store. 

The  present  managers  have  had  charge  of 
the  business  since  its  inception.  The  officers 
are  Sanford  Olson,  manager ;  J.  T.  Peters,  sec- 


SKANDIA  HARDWARE  COMPANY. 


The  company  has  built  up  a  very  successful 
business  by  strict  integrity,  close  attention  to 
business,  and  by  handling  nothing  but  desirable 
goods. 

They  keep  a  complete  line  of  shelf  and  heavy 


retary;  Enoch  Nicholson,  head  salesman;  Charles 
Carlson,  head  of  stove  department,  and  Frank 
Turnos  in  charge  of  the  tinners'  department.  A 
cut  of  the  Skandia  Hardware  Co.'s  building  ac- 
companies this  sketch. 


ROCKFORD 


O.  W.  JOHNSON. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Ontario,  Canada,  in  1873,  and  came  to  Rock- 
ford  in  1894.  when  he  engaged  in  business  with 
Root,  Johnson  &  Co.  He  continued  with  this 
firm  one  year,  when  J.  E.  Johnson  and  Tilson 
bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Root,  Mr.  O.  W. 
Johnson  remaining  with  the  firm 

In  1899  he  purchased  the  interest  of  J.  E. 
Johnson  and  the  firm  continued  as  Johnson  Si 


systems  in  the  country,  where  their  goods  are 
kept  sound  and  fresh  and  are  delivered  to  the 
dealer  in  the  best  possible  condition.  In  con- 
nection with  fruits  and  vegetables,  the  company 
handles,  annually,  millions  of  eggs. 

An  office  is  maintained  at  105  South  Water 
street,  Chicago,  from  which  point  Wisconsin, 
Illinois  and  a  part  of  Indiana  are  supplied  with 
goods.  The  Rockford  trade  covers  northern 


Tilson.  In  1901  Mr.  Frank  Ward  bought  the 
interest  of  Mr.  Tilson  and  these  parties  have 
since  constituted  the  firm.  A  general  commis- 
sion and  wholesale  business  is  carried  on  by 
this  firm.  Vegetables  and  fruits  of  all  kinds 
are  handled  in  carload  lots  or  in  smaller  quan- 
tities. They  have  one  of  the  finest  cold-storage 


Illinois  and  southern  Wisconsin.  In  order  to 
handle  the  trade  in  central  Wisconsin  the  firm 
has  opened  a  branch  office  at  Madison,  which 
point  will  be  used  as  a  purchasing  point  for  eggs 
as  well  as  a  distributing  point  for  fruits  and 
vegetables. 


ROCKFORD 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


HON.  WILLIAM    LATHROP. 

Hon.  William  Lathrop  was  born  in  Stafford, 
Genesee  county.  New  York,  April  17,  1825> 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Lathrop  studied  law  at  Atica,  New 
York,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1850. 
He  removed  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  in  the 
spring  of  1850,  and  to  Rockford  January  1, 
1851 ,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

When  the  city  government  was  organized  in 
1852  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  clerk. 

Mr.  Lathrop  is  not  a  politician,  but  was 
elected  to  congress  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 


and  Robert  are  attorneys  and  have  offices  in 
the  building  with  their  father.  The  family  resi- 
dence is  at  No.  408  Rockton  avenue. 


HON.    WILLIAM    LATHROP. 

1876,  and  served  one  term  with  marked  ability 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He 
has  a  large  law  practice  and  enjoys  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Lathrop  was  married  to  Miss  Adeline 
Potter  of  Rockford,  and  has  five  children,  Julia, 
Anna,  Edward,  William  and  Robert.  Edward 


RALPH  EMERSON. 

Ralph  Emerson,  son  of  Ralph  and  Eliza 
(Rockwell)  Emerson,  was  born  at  Andover, 
Mass.,  May  3,  1831.  He  was  a  teacher  in 
New  England,  where  he  also  studied  law.  He 
removed  to  Bloomington,  Illinois,  when  twenty 
years  of  age,  where  he  continued  the  study  of 
law.  He  became  intimately  acquainted  with 
Abraham  Lincoln,  which  acquaintance  continued 


RALPH    EMERSON. 

during  the  life  of  the  latter.  Through  Mr. 
Lincoln's  advice,  he  abandoned  law  and  engaged 
in  industrial  pursuits. 

He  removed  first  to  Beloit,  Wis.,  and  to 
Rockford  in  1852,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  first  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  and 
then  became  a  manufacturer.  He  has  been 
prominently  connected,  either  as  president,  vice- 


84 


ROCKFORD 


president,  director,  trustee,  sole  owner,  leading 
partner,  or  otherwise,  with  the  organization  and 
working  of  over  forty  different  manufacturing, 
commercial,  financial,  agricultural,  educational 
and  charitable  enterprises,  some  of  national 
reputation. 

These  enterprises  include  such  interests  as 
the  manufacture  of  agricultural  implements, 
knitting  machines,  hosiery,  cotton  goods,  woolen 
goods,  lumber,  two  insurance  companies,  two 
national  banks,  and  two  electric  companies,  one 
of  which  does  the  entire  electric  lighting  of  the 
city  of  Rockford.  He  at  one  time  owned  a 
farm  with  over  three  square  miles  under  the  plow. 

He  is  still  in  active  control  of  several  of 
Rockford's  most  important  industries.  He  is 
president  of  the  Emerson  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, one  of  the  largest  institutions  in  the 
country. 

Mr.  Emerson  married  Miss  Adeline  Elizabeth 
Talcott,  daughter  of  Hon.  Wait  and  Elizabeth 
Anna  (Norton)  Talcott,  September  7,  1858. 
She  was  born  at  Vernon,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
October  12,  1837,  and  was  graduated  at 
Rutger's  College.  New  York  City,  with  the  class 
of  1856,  and  previous  to  marriage  taught  school 
at  Rockton  and  Rockford. 

Mrs.  Emerson  has  occupied  positions  of 
great  honor  and  importance  in  philanthropic, 
patriotic  and  social  organizations,  not  only  in  the 
city,  but  in  state  and  national  organizations, 
representing  some  of  them  as  delegate  at  inter- 
national conventions  in  Europe  and  elsewhere. 
Her  printed  volumes,  "Love  Bound  and  Other 
Poems"  and  "Memorial"  of  her  son,  have  met 
with  a  glad  welcome  and  high  commendation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emerson  have  had  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  now  living:  Adeline 
Eliza,  wife  of  Norman  Frederick  Thompson, 
banker  in  Rockford;  Harriet  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
William  E.  Hinchliff,  manufacturer  of  Rockford; 
Mary,  wife  of  Edward  Potter  Lathrop,  lawyer  in 
Rockford;  Charlotte  Belle,  wife  of  Darwin  Mill 
Keith,  M.  D.,  of  Rockford;  and  Dora  Bay,  wife 
of  Prof.  William  Morton  Wheeler,  Ph.  D.,  cura- 
tor in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
New  York  City.  The  family  residence  is  at 
No.  427  North  Church  street. 


CAPT.  JOHN  H.  SHERRATT. 

Captain  John    Hall    Sherratt   was  born    in 
Winnebago  county.  Illinois,  April  12,  1 844,  and 


CAPT.   JOHN   H.   SHERRATT. 

was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  His  parents, 
Thomas  and  Lydia  Holmes  Sherratt,  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county  and  first 
resided  upon  a  farm,  but  later  his  father  opened 
a  harness  shop  in  Rockford.  August  7,  1862, 
he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  74th  Illinois  vol- 
unteers. The  regiment  was  with  the  army  of 
the  Cumberland  and  participated  in  several  of 
the  most  noted  battles  of  the  war.  He  was 
mustered  out  of  service  January  31 ,  1866,  with 
the  rank  of  captain.  Upon  returning  to  Rock- 
ford,  he  became  identified  with  the  Rockford 
Insurance  Company,  as  general  agent  for  a  time 
and  later  as  assistant  secretary.  January  1 , 
1880,  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  Rock- 
ford  and  became  the  secretary  of  the  Forest 
City  Insurance  Company,  which  position  he  held 
ten  years,  and  was  then  elected  president,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
Third  National  Bank  for  several  years,  and  at 
the  death  of  Mr.  Spafford,  in  1897,  was  elected 
president  of  this  institution.  Under  his  admin- 
istration the  business  of  the  bank  has  met  with 


ROCKFORD 


marked  success,  and  is  one  of  the  strong  finan- 
cial institutions  of  the  city.  Captain  Sherratt 
was  elected  mayor  of  Rockford  in  1889,  and 
served  two  years.  He  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Country  Club  and  was  its  first  presi- 
dent. He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and 
Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  He  is  the 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Rockford 
College  and  a  trustee  of  the  Rockford  City  Hos- 
pital, in  both  of  which  institutions  he  is  deeply 
interested.  Captain  Sherratt  wa?  married  to  Miss 
Harriett  E.  Wight,  daughter  of  Hon.  James 
M.Wight,  of  Rockford,  July  9,  1873.  Mrs. 
Sherratt  is  prominent  in  literary  circles,  is  the 
author  of  "  Mexican  Vistas,"  and  several  beau- 
tiful poems.  The  family  residence  is  at  No.  1907 
Harlem  avenue. 


HON   ARTHUR  H    FROST. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
St.  Johnsbury,  Vermont,  May  12,  1856,  and 
came  to  RockforH  in  1°*l.  where  he  received 


of  states  attorney  in  1892,  and  re-elected  in 
1896  and  1900.  He  resigned  this  office  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1901,  and  was  elected  judge  of  the 
circuit  court  February  25,  the  same  year,  and 
was  re-elected  to  this  office  June  1,  1903. 

Judge  Frost  has  executed  the  duties  pertain- 
ing to  these  several  judicial  offices  with  distinct- 
tion  and  fidelity,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of 
the  bar  and  the  people,  without  exception. 

He  practiced  law  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Frost  &  McEvoy,  from  December,  1888  to 
March,  1901,  with  marked  success. 

Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  and 
the  Masonic  order. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Southgate,  May 
17,  1883,  and  has  four  children:  Bertha  Helen, 
aged  19;  Raymond  Southgate,  aged  17;  Arthur 
H.,  aged  12,  and  Walter  K  ,  aged  7.  The 
family  residence  is  at  No  712  North  Church 
street. 


HON.   RUFUS  C.   BAILEY. 

Hon   Rufus  C.  Bailey  was  born  in  Auburn, 
Maine.  July  28,  1833.      His  primary  education 


HON.    ARTHUR    H.    FROST. 


his  education,  being  a  graduate  from  the  East 
Side  High  School. 

Judge  Frost  studied  law  in  the  office  of  the 
late  N.  C.  Warner,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
January  19,  1879.  He  was  elected  to  the  office 


HON.    RUFUS    C.    BAILEY. 


was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town,  and  preparation  for  college  was  made  in 


86 


ROCKFORD 


the  Auburn  and  Waterville  academies.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  scientific  department  of 
Amherst  College  in  1855,  and  came  to  Rock- 
ford  in  October  of  that  year. 

He  served  as  a  civil  engineer  from  1855  to 
1858  and  then  took  up  the  study  of  law.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  August  18,  1860,  and 
practiced  this  profession  in  this  city  until  1873, 
when  he  was  elected  county  judge  which  office 
he  has  held  with  honor  and  distinction  continu- 
ously since.  He  was  made  city  clerk  in  1860 
and  held  the  office  during  six  years.  In  1863 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  attorney. 

It  is  an  unprecedented  fact  that  Judge  Bailey 
has  most  acceptably  filled  the  office  of  county 
judge  in  Winnebago  county  a  greater  number  of 
years  than  any  other  incumbent  in  the  history 
of  the  county. 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Bailey  reside  at  No.  702 
North  Main  street. 


GILBERT  WOODRUFF. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Nov. 
30,  1817,  at  Watertown,  N,  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of 
Mr.  ar.d  Mrs.  Frederick  Woodruff.  During  his 
boyhood  days  he  attended  public  school  during 
the  winter  terms  and  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  during  the  summer.  Having  completed 
the  common  branches  then  taught  in  the  public 
schools,  he  engaged,  while  still  young,  in  the 
grocery  business  with  a  small  capital,  in  his  native 
city.  At  the  end  of  six  months  he  sold  out  his 
stock  and  opened  a  large  store,  which  he  con- 
ducted most  successfully  for  two  and  a  half  years. 
By  prudent  and  economical  management  during 
this  time  he  had  increased  his  capital  so  that  he 
was  enabled  to  invest  considerable  sums  in  real 
estate,  and  this  business  soon  assumed  large  pro- 
portions. While  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness be  built  many  important  siructures,  among 
which  was  the  Washington  Hall  block  in  Water- 
town.  In  1857,  he  closed  out  his  business  in 
the  east  and  removed  to  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where 
he  spent  a  year  looking  after  his  financial  inter- 
ests. While  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
in  Watertown,  he  loaned  considerable  money  to 
parties  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  and  had  also  In- 
vested in  lands  in  both  states.  Mr.  Woodruff 
came  to  Rockford  in  1858,  and  during  the  first 


three  years  was  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness, exchanging  his  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  lands 
for  property  in  Rockford  and  vicinity.  During 
this  time  he  became  possessed  of  forty  farms  in 
Winnebago  and  Ogle  counties,  which  he  after- 
ward exchanged  for  city  property.  Rockford 
owes  much  of  its  prosperity,  beauty  and  progress 
to  the  enterprise  and  devoted  public  spirit  of 
such  men  as  Mr.  Woodruff  has  proved  himself 
to  be.  He  has  ever  taken  a  lively  interest  in  all 
progressive  improvements  for  the  betterment 
and  welfare  of  the  city,  and  acceptably  served 
as  its  mayor  from  1873  to  1875.  Woodruff's 
addition  to  the  city  will  become  an  honorable 
monument  to  the  family.  He  has  seen  the 
place  grow  from  an  humble  village  to  the  mag- 
nificent proportions  of  a  beautiful  city  and  has 
personally  aided,  by  his  influence  and  a  liberal 
use  of  his  money,  in  securing  the  location  of 
manufacturing  and  industrial  institutions  in 


GILBERT    WOODRUFF. 

Rockford  until  it  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the 
most  important  manufacturing  centers  west  of 
Chicago. 

He   was   one    of    the    originators    of    the 
Rockford    National    Bank   and  was  elected  its 


ROCKFORD 


president  in  1871,  which  office  he  has  success- 
fully administered  continuously  since.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Forest  City  Insurance 
Company  in  1873  and  acted  as  its  president  for 
many  years.  In  1875  he  organized  the  Forest 
City  Furniture  Company  of  which  he  is  still 
president,  and  this  has  become  one  of  the 
largest  industries  in  the  city.  To  him  is  due  a 
great  share  of  the  credit  for  the  development 
and  wonderful  growth  of  the  busy  business 
thoroughfare  known  as  Seventh  street.  He  was 
among  the  first  to  erect  business  buildings  in 
that  section,  had  firm  faith  in  the  future  of  the 
street  and  has  expended  much  money  in  business 
blocks  along  it,  adding  greatly  to  its  beauty  and 
stability.  He  can  rightly  be  termed  the  Father 
of  Seventh  street,  and  its  marvelous  growth  has 
always  been  to  him  a  matter  of  special  pride 
and  satisfaction. 

He  also  built  two  of  the  finest  business  blocks 
on  West  State  street,  one  of  which  is  the 
Rockford  National  Bank  building  and  the 
other  the  Woodruff  block,  just  across  the  street. 
To  him  can  also  be  given  much  of  the  credit 
for  the  excellent  street  railway  system  enjoyed 
by  Rockford  today.  He  invested  heavily  in  the 
property  when  it  was  far  from  a  paying  propo- 
sition, assisted  in  bringing  about  a  reorganization 
and  consolidation  of  the  two  city  lines,  together 
with  the  inter-urbans,  with  the  result  that  the 
service  has  been  perfected,  the  lines  extended, 
and  it  is  today  one  of  the  best  investments  in 
the  west.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  a 
heavy  stockholder  in  the  Insurance  Company  of 
the  State  of  Illinois,  of  Rockford,  and  was  ever 
willing  to  back  his  faith  in  its  future  with  his 
money.  Time  showed  his  wisdom  and  the 
company  is  now  on  a  solid,  paying  basis. 

Mr.  Woodruff  is  an  active  member  of  the 
First  Congregational  church  of  Rockford.  He 
is  one  of  the  trustees  of  Rockford  College,  which 
ranks  high  among  the  educational  institutions  of 
the  west.  He  is  a  staunch  republican.  Socially 
he  leads  a  quiet,  unostentatious  life  and  is 
always  accessible  to  the  most  humble  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  has  bestowed  with  a  liberal 
hand  and  an  unselfish  spirit  in  all  cases  of 
necessity  and  distress  when  called  upon  for  aid. 
In  his  business  career  and  through  life  he  has 
maintained  a  reputation  of  the  highest  integrity 


and  most  scrupulous  honesty  and  among  the 
long  list  of  Rockford's  honored  citizens  there  are 
none  more  highly  honored  and  esteemed  than  is 
Mr.  Woodruff,  the  quiet  citizen. 

Mr.  Woodruff  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy 
Fay  in  1840,  and  seven  children  were  born  to 
them,  four  of  whom  are  still  living,  they  being 
Mrs.  Sarah  W.  Parmele.  Volney  D.  Woodruff, 
Mrs.  Duncan  H.  Ferguson  and  William  F. 
Woodruff. 

Mrs.  Woodruff  died  in  1875,  and  in  1879 
Mr  Woodruff  was  married  to  Mrs.  Augusta 
Todd  and  they  now  reside  at  the  old  homestead 
on  South  Third  street. 


HON.   E.   B.  SUMNER. 

attorney  and  counselor-at-law,  was  born  in  Peca- 
tonica,  Illinois.  Nov.    14,   1850,  and  was  grad- 


HON.    E      B.    SUMNER. 

uated  from  the  Rockford  High  School,  class  of 
1866,  In  1867  he  entered  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Literary 
department  in  1873,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  for  the  practice  of  law,  at  Detroit  the  same 
year.  His  admission  to  the  practice  of  law  in 
Illinois,  took  place  at  Mount  Vernon,  June,  1873. 


ROCKFORD 


He  then  located  in  Rockford  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  elected  city  attorney  in  1879, 
and  to  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legislature  in 
1 880  and  re-elected  in  1882.  He  was  elected 
to  the  state  senate  in  1884  and  served  four 
years.  He  filled  the  office  of  Vice- President 
of  the  Rockford  Forest  City  Bank  for  some 
time.  Mr.  Sumner  has  a  large  amount  of  fine 
city  and  farm  property,  to  the  care  of  which  he 
devotes  the  most  of  his  time.  He  is  always 
accessible  to  his  many  friends  and  is  able  to  give 
counsel  or  advice  in  matters  political  or  finan- 
cial. He  is  a  bachelor  and  resides  at  516 
North  Church  street. 


with  great  success  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  widely  known  in  the  glove  trade  and  was 
one  of  the  largest  dealers  in  the  country. 

While  he  was  deeply  absorbed  in  his  own 
business,  he  always  manifested  a  lively  interest 


HENRY  W.  PRICE. 

Henry  W.  Price,  one  of  Rockford's  most 
eminent  citizens  and  city  builders,  was  born  in 
Lakeville,  Genesee  county,  New  York,  May  22, 
1837.  His  parents  removed  to  Chicago  while 
he  was  but  an  infant,  where  they  remained  un- 
til Henry  was  twelve  years  old.  His  father  then 
started  for  California  to  make  his  fortune  in  the 
gold  fields  of  that  state,  but  died  on  the  way. 
The  family  then  returned  to  Lakeville  and 
Henry  made  his  home  with  his  grandfather, 
Deacon  John  Holmes,  and  attended  school  at 
the  Temple  academy  in  Geneseo. 

When  eighteen  years  old  he  went  to  Buffalo 
and  bought  a  stock  of  shoes,  where  he  remained 
in  trade  until  coming  to  Rockford  in  1858. 
Upon  his  arrival  in  the  Forest  City  he  at  once 
entered  a  business  career  which  grew  to  such 
proportions  as  to  place  him  in  the  front  ranks  of 
financiers  and  masters  in  giant  business  enter- 
prises. His  life  was  his  business  which  was 
conducted  upon  a  scale  that  would  cause  one 
less  timid  to  hesitate.  Mr.  Price  never  faltered. 
His  plans  in  all  business  enterprises  were  well 
laid  and  carried  out  with  mathematical  precision. 
If  they  failed,  it  was  not  due  to  any  lack  on  his 
part,  but  to  circumstances  beyond  his  control. 
He  relied  upon  his  own  resources  in  planning  for 
future  success  for  himself  and  the  city  he  loved 
so  well.  In  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  he  was 
a  self  made  man. 

When  first  coming  to  Rockford  he  engaged 
in  the  shoe  business,  but  in  1860  he  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  gloves,  which  he  carried  on 


HENRY    W.    PRICE. 

in  the  city's  welfare,  and  to  him  belongs  the 
credit  of  promoting  and  instituting  some  of 
Rockford's  most  valuable  industries  and  im- 
provements. Mr.  Price  was  one  of  Rockford's 
prominent  citizens  and,  in  fact,  he  had  no  peer 
in  his  self-sacrificing  liberality  for  the  upbuilding 
of  the  city.  His  life  was  a  part  of  the  city's 
life,  as  he  was  one  of  its  early  settlers  and  it 
grew  to  its  present  proud  position  under  his 
magic  touch  and  inspiration.  "New  industries" 
was  the  keynote  he  always  sounded  and  others 
would  get  into  harmony  with  his  music  and 
when  all  moved  together,  wonderful  results 
followed. 

He  it  was  who  inspired  the  institution  of  the 
watch  factory,  silver  plate  works,  bolt  works, 
tack  factory,  city  railway,  and  the  Ingersoll 
Milling  Machine  company.  He  invested  large 
sums  of  money  in  these  industries,  and  in  some 
instances  large  sums  were  lost,  but  he  pushed 
all  the  harder  to  win  success  for  the  good  of  the 
city.  He  favored  public  improvement  notwith- 


ROCKFORD 


89 


standing  the  fact  that  he  would  be  heavily  taxed 
therefor.  His  civic  pride,  when  placed  in  the 
financial  balance,  outweighed  all  other  consider- 
ations. Among  other  public  enterprises  in 
which  he  was  a  moving  spirit,  was  the  North 
End  addition  in  which  he  invested  $250,000.00. 

Mr.  Price  was  the  president  of  the  H.  W. 
Price  Glove  Company,  president  of  the  Rockford 
Silver  Plate  Company,  and  vice-president  of  the 
Rockford  City  Railway  Company,  in  all  of  which 
institutions  he  was  a  heavy  investor.  Mr.  Price 
was  liberal  to  a  fault  and  many  were  the  chari- 
ties extended  to  both  public  and  private  enter- 
prises. Mr.  Price  experienced  heavy  losses  in 
some  of  his  enterprises,  about  $500,000  having 
been  swept  away  as  reverses  came,  but  at  this 
he  did  not  falter.  New  energy  was  thrown  into 
his  business  and  much  of  the  losses  recovered. 

After  spending  the  best  part  of  his  most 
active  and  valuable  life  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
city  of  his  adoption  and  of  his  best  love,  he  was 
called  to  his  long  home  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  May  20,  1903. 

Mr.  Price  married  Miss  Frances  Irene  War- 
ner of  Milan,  Penn.,  in  1863,  and  had  one  child 
who  is  Mrs.  Maude  Price  Knight.  Mrs.  Price, 
the  daughter,  Maude,  and  two  grandchildren, 
Henry  Price  Knight  and  Mary  Daphne  Knight, 
are  now  living.  The  family  residence  is  at 
No.  929  North  Main  street. 


NORMAN  F.  THOMPSON. 

Norman  F.  Thompson  was  born  in  Perry, 
Georgia,  June  27,  1856,  and  came  to  Rockford 
with  his  parents  in  1857,  where  he  received  the 
benefit  of  the  city  schools  and  where  thorough 
preparation  was  made  for  a  broad  and  finished 
education.  He  was  graduated  with  honors  from 
the  Yale  University  in  the  class  of  1881,  and 
has  since  been  identified  with  important  business 
interests  in  New  York  City,  Buffalo  and  Rock- 
ford.  He  was  for  several  years  connected  with 
the  Equitable  Mortgage  Company  of  New  York, 
as  assistant  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  later 
became  the  treasurer  of  the  Equitable  Securities 
Company  of  New  York.  He  resigned  this 
position  to  take  charge  of  reorganizing  a  machine 
screw  company  in  Buffalo,  and  as  assistant  re- 
ceiver of  the  Equitable  Mortgage  Company, 


On  the  completion  of  this  work  he  returned  to 
Rockford  to  take  charge  of  the  private  affairs  of 
Mr.  Ralph  Emerson. 

At  the  election  of  officers  for  the  Manufac- 
turers' National  Bank  in  1900,  Mr.  Thompson 
was  made  the  vice-president  and  acting  officer 
of  this  institution.  His  large  experience  in 
connection  with  important  financial  institutions 
in  the  east,  made  him  a  desirable  person  to  fill 
this  important  position  in  one  of  Rockford's 
strongest,  most  reliable  and  deservedly  popular 
banking  houses. 


NORMAN    F.    THOMPSON. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  city  treasurer  from  1901 
to  1903.  He  is  trustee  for  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
and  Archean  Union,  No.  1 .  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Twentieth  Century  Club,  Chi- 
cago; Graduates  Club,  New  Haven,  Conn.; 
Bankers  Club,  Chicago;  and  Country  Club  and 
Beefsteak  Club  of  Rockford.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Burson  Knitting 
Company  and  the  Manufacturers'  National 
Bank. 

Mr.  Thompson  married  Adaline  E.  Emerson, 
oldest  daughter  of  Ralph  Emerson,  on  January 
10,  1883.  Their  children  are  Norman  F. 
Thompson,  Jr.,  aged  19,  at  Yale  University; 


ROCKFORD 


Ralph  E.  Thompson,  aged  15,  at  Hotchkiss 
School;  Adalyn  Thompson,  aged  13,  at  Rock- 
ford  College. 

INGALLS  CARLETON 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Jeremiah  Carleton  of  Barre, 
Vermont,  and  his  wife  Betsey  Robey  Carleton 
of  Dunstable,  New  Hampshire. 


INGALLS    CARLETON. 

Ingalls  Carleton  was  born  in  Marshfield,  Ver- 
mont, March  30th,  1824,  of  English  descent, 
and  is  a  representative  of  the  twenty-sixth  gen- 
eration from  the  noted  Baldwin  De  Carleton, 
who  lived  in  England  in  the  year  1066,  and 
whose  descendants  occupied  Carleton  Hall  for 
six  hundred  years.  Later,  other  descendants  of 
prominence  appeared,  among  whom  were  Sir 
Dudley  Carleton,  a  statesman,  who  was  created 
Viscount  Dorchester  by  Charles  I.,  died  in 
1 65 1 ,  and  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  first  Governor  Gen- 
eral of  Canada,  and  the  first  Lord  Dorchester. 

Among  the  Carleton  family  of  this  country 
are  found  farmers,  soldiers,  ministers  and  men 
of  letters.  Mr.  Carleton's  son,  Leonard  Ingalls, 
represents  the  twenty-seventh,  and  his  grandson, 
Robey  Freeman  Carleton,  the  twenty-eighth 
generation  of  Carletons  of  the  tenth  century. 
Mr.  Carleton,  his  son  and  grandson,  are  entitled 
to  the  family  coat  of  arms  of  Oxfordshire,  Lon- 


don and  Surrey,  the  motto  of  which  is, "  Non  ad 
Perniciem." 

Mr.  Carleton  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and  when  young 
taught  three  winter  terms  of  school.  He  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  Vermont  legislature  in 
1855.  In  1856  he  came  to  Rockford,  but  soon 
returned  to  his  Vermont  home,  where  he  was 
re-elected  to  the  legislature.  In  1857  again 
came  west  and  located  in  Rockton,  where  he 
formed  a  copartnership  with  the  late  George  H. 
Hollister,  and  built  a  large  flouring  mill  and  ele- 
vator, and  engaged  in  the  milling  and  grain  busi- 
ness. After  a  successful  ten  year's  business 
the  firm  sold  its  milling  interests.  Mr.  Carleton 
removed  to  Rockford,  where  he  has  since  resi- 
ded in  retirement,  looking  after  his  large  real 
estate  interests  in  this  county  and  South  Dakota. 
His  residence  in  East  State  street  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  homes  in  this  city,  and  has  been 
occupied  by  the  family  since  1877. 

Mr.  Carleton  is  one  of  the  few  surviving 
attendants  who  heard  the  great  Lincoln-Doug- 
lass debate  in  Freeport  in  1858,  and  the  many 
stirring  incidents  of  the  occasion  are  still  fresh 
in  his  memory.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep 
interest  in  public  affairs,  and  by  his  generosity 
has  aided  in  the  development  and  substantial 
growth  of  the  city. 

He  was  married  at  Rockton  in  1869  to  Miss 
Amy  Lawrence,  a  daughter  of  Luther  Lawrence, 
and  his  wife,  Adelia  Loomer  Lawrence,  of  Rock- 
ton.  Mrs.  Carleton's  father  traces  his  ances- 
tors to  Sir  Robert  Lawrence  of  Ashton  Hall, 
England,  who  was  knighted  in  the  year  1190. 
Among  his  descendants  have  been  many  people 
of  prominence  and  worth.  Conspicuous  in  this 
country  were  Amos  and  Abbott  Lawrence  of 
Groton,  Massachusetts,  the  original  home  of 
John  Lawrence,  of  Suffolk,  England,  who  set- 
tled there  in  1635. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carleton  have  one  son,  Leon- 
ard Ingalls,  who  was  born  at  Rockton.  His  wife 
is  Alice  Freeman  Carleton.  a  daughter  of  the 
late  William  Edward  and  Sarah  Hill  Freeman 
of  Cheltenham,  England. 

Two  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
Leonard  Ingalls,  Jr.,  who  died  January  20,  1902, 
aged  two  years,  and  Robey  Freeman  Carleton, 
who  was  born  August  28,  1902. 


ROCKFORD 


HON.   JOHN  C.  CARVER  (DECEASED) 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  son  of  John 
Carver,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  near  Pecatonica  in  an  early  day, 
where  John  C.  was  born  November  16,  1843. 


HON.    JOHN    C.    CARVER. 

Judge  Carver  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon 
his  father's  farm,  and  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  He  took  a  course 
at  the  Wlttenburg  College  in  Springfield,  Ohio, 
where  he  received  his  degree.  He  studied  law 
under  the  tutorship  of  Gen.  Keifer,  of  Ohio,  who 
was  at  one  time  Speaker  of -the  House  of  Con- 
gress. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Rockford. 

He  quickly  gained  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple and  the  bar,  and  rose  rapidly  in  his  profes- 
sion. He  was  elected  States  Attorney,  which 
office  he  filled  two  terms  with  marked  ability. 

In  1882  Judge  Carver  was  a  candidate  for 
Congress,  and  would  have  received  the  nomina- 
tion and  election  but  for  the  sudden  death  of 
Major  Hawk,  which  occurred  shortly  before  the 
meeting  of  the  convention  which  occasioned  its 
adjournment  without  action.  At  its  next  meet- 


ing  Robert  R.  Hitt  and  Col.  B.  F.  Sheets  both 
entered  the  race  and  Mr.  Hitt  was  nominated, 
although  Winnebago  county  stood  by  Judge 
Carver. 

In  1886  Mr.  Carver  was  elected  to  the  Cir- 
cuit bench  to  succeed  Judge  James  Cartwright 
who  had  been  elevated  to  the  Supreme  bench  to 
succeed  Judge  Bailey  who  had  died.  After  fill- 
ing out  the  unexpired  term  of  Judge  Cartwright. 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  for  the  full  term. 
He  served  frequently  upon  the  bench  in  Chicago 
with  great  acceptance. 

Judge  Carver  was  a  hard,  conscientious 
worker  as  a  lawyer  and  an  exemplary  and  upright 
judge.  Socially  he  was  a  Past  Master  of  E.  F. 
W.  Ellis  Lodge  of  Masons,  Past  Commander  of 
Crusader  Commandery,  a  member  of  the  Con-' 
sistory  and  Shrine,  Knights  of  the  Globe,  Forest 
City  Lodge  of  United  Workmen,  Odd  Fellows 
and  Woodmen. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Segur,  of 
Rockford,  November  25,  1875.  Mrs.  Carver 
is  the  daughter  of  John  Segur,  who  is  still  living 
in  Rockford. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Judge  and  Mrs. 
Carver,  five  of  whom  are  now  living  ;  Laura.  M., 
Lewis  C.,  Earl,  Eva  and  Howell. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  1 103  South 
Main  street. 

Judge  Carver  died  November  27,  1901, 
loved  and  mourned  by  the  entire  community. 


MAYOR  CHARLES  E.  JACKSON. 

With  no  other  name  could  the  title  of  this 
work,  "  Rockford  Today,"  be  more  aptly  asso- 
ciated than  that  of  Charles  E.  Jackson  who  was, 
in  May  of  this  year,  installed  as  mayor  of  this 
city.  In  early  life  he  has  won  success  in  busi- 
ness, is  liberal  and  progressive  in  his  political 
views,  stands  for  good  city  government  and  is 
essentially  a  home  man.  Those  estimable  qual- 
ities so  typical  of  Rockford,  are  reflected  by  its 
new  mayor,  who  is  a  product  of  its  public  schools 
and  its  business  institutions.  Mr.  Jackson  was 
born  on  a  Boone  County  farm,  four  miles  from 
Belvidere,  Ills.,  Nov.  30,  1867,  When  he  was 
four  months  old  his  parents  moved  to  Rockford, 
which  place  he  has  ever  since  respected  as  his 
home.  After  completing  his  studies  in  the  pub- 


ROCKFORD 


lie  schools  he  entered  business  life  as  a  clerk 
in  a  retail  clothing  store.  Reaching  a  more  use- 
ful era  of  efficiency,  he  went  out  as  a  traveling 
salesman,  in  which  vocation  he  continued  for 
several  years.  In  1891  he  established  the  whole- 
sale portrait  and  frame  business,  which  he  has 
since  conducted  successfully  extending  his  sales 


MAYOR  CHARLES  E.   JACKSON 

to  every  state  in  the  union  and  into  foreign  coun- 
tries. As  an  energetic  worker  for  the  commer- 
cial supremacy  of  the  city  he  was  chosen  pres- 
ident of  the  East  State  Street  Business  Men's 
Association.  In  that  position  he  displayed  qual- 
ities for  leadership  which  caused  his  name  to  be 
mentioned  as  a  candidate  for  alderman  from 
his  home  ward,  and,  after  a  spirited  campaign 
which  usually  follows  in  a  bailiwick  where  citi- 
zenship is  appreciated,  he  became  Alderman 
Jackson.  In  his  new  office  he  surprised  his  best 
friends  by  his  temperate  demeanor  debate,  his 
uniform  courtesy  toward  his  colleagues  and  the 
clear  cut  manner  in  which  he  cared  for  the  in- 
terests of  his  people.  During  his  two  years  ser- 
vice as  alderman  he  became  the  central  figure 
of  a  movement  to  modify  the  existing  ward  lines 
of  the  city  so  that  all  voters  could  be  equally 
represented  in  the  council.  The  successful  ter- 
mination of  that  movement  made  him  the  logi- 


cal mayoral  candidate  of  a  majority  of  his  fel- 
low citizens,  a  majority  which  increased  in  num- 
ber as  election  day  drew  near.  His  first  offi- 
cial acts  have  justified  the  claims  made  by  his 
friends  as  to  his  fitness  for  executive  honors. 
He  has  selected  his  lieutenants  with  impartiality 
as  to  geographical  lines  and  has  inaugurated  a 
progressive  business  policy  which  will  contribute 
toward  the  city's  welfare.  While  essentially  a 
home  man  he  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arca- 
num, Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  A.  0. 
U.  W.  fraternal  orders,  in  which  he  has  seriously 
interested  himself.  Mr.  Jackson  was  married 
in  1898  to  Nellie  L.  Brown,  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Chas.  E.  Brown.  If  Mr.  Jackson  has 
ambitions  of  a  political  nature  other  than  those 
which  make  for  good  city  government,  he  has 
not  disclosed  them  to  even  his  closest  friends, 
and  the  belief  obtains  that  his  foremost  aim  is 
to  see  the  best  interests  of  Rockford  developed 
along  broad,  peaceful  and  permanent  lines. 


HON.  CHARLES  A.  WORKS  (DECEASED) 
was  a  native  of  this  county,  having  been  born 
at  Guilford,  Illinois,  May  4,  1848,  and  was  grad- 


r 


HON.    CHARLES    A.    WORKS. 

uated  from  the  East  Rockford  High  School  in 
1868. 


ROCKFORD 


93 


He  served  as  a  clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
at  Ottawa,  Illinois,  from  September.  1873,  to 
September,  1875. 

He  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  city 
schools  of  La  Salle,  Illinois,  in  1875,  and  served 
with  distinction  in  this  capacity  two  years. 

Mr.  Works  was  then  made  deputy  clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Court  at  La  Salle,  Illinois,  and  served 
one  year. 

During  the  year  1878  he  was  in  the  govern- 
ment employ  in  the  Indian  service  on  the  Mis- 
souri river. 

He  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Rockford  in 
January,  1879,  and  soon  became  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  advocates  at  the  bar  in  the  state. 

He  was  elected  States  Attorney  for  Winne- 
bago  county  in  1880,  which  office  he  held  for 
three  consecutive  terms,  with  honor  to  himself 
and  to  the  perfect  satisfaction  of  the  people. 

He  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Equalization  in  1 892  and  again  in  1 900, 
which  office  he  administered  with  distinction, 
having  served  upon  one  of  the  most  important 
committees  of  the  board,  and  was  acknowledged 
to  be  an  authority  in  the  determination  of  intri- 
cate legal  questions  coming  before  the  board  in 
transacting  its  business. 

Mr.  Works  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  Enoch, 
daughter  of  Hon.  A.  I.  Enoch,  in  November, 
1880,  and  had  four  children,  Marein  S.,  Mabel 
J.,  Helen  K.  and  Charles  Enoch. 


He  told  them  he  had  resolved  to  go  the  follow- 
ing year,  and  they  finally  gave  their  consent. 

The  first  week  in  May,  1837,  when  but  six- 
teen years  of  age,  he  left  his  beautiful  English 


JOHN   LAKE. 

John  Lake  was  born  on  Blackford  Farm, 
Selworthy  Parish,  England,  March  27,  1821, 
said  farm  was  then  the  possession  of  his  pater- 
nal grandfather,  who  was  a  farmer,  dairyman, 
miller,  malster.  and  a  dealer  in  all  kinds  of 
seeds.  William  Lake,  the  father  of  John  Lake, 
was  also  born  on  Blackford  Farm  in  1798,  and 
died  when  John  was  but  six  months  old.  John's 
mother  married  again,  and  he  was  reared  by  his 
grandmother  in  the  old  home.  Mr.  Lake  was 
given  excellent  educational  advantages  by  pri- 
vate teachers. 

He  commenced  to  earn  his  own  living  when 
fourteen  years  of  age  by  working  on  a  farm.  In 
May,  1836,  he  proposed  going  to  the  United 
States,  but  was  opposed  in  this  by  his  family. 


JOHN    LAKE. 

home  to  gain  a  competence  for  himself  in  the 
United  States.  He  secured  passage  on  the 
"Severn,"  a  sailing  vessel,  loaded  with  iron  for 
Philadelphia.  The  voyage  was  beset  by  fearful 
storms  and  continued  through  seven  long  weeks 
before  the  arrival  at  Philadelphia. 

He  immediately  set  out  for  Rockford,  where 
he  expected  to  join  his  uncle  Thomas,  but  was 
detained  by  illness  at  Rockport,  a  small  town  on 
the  Ohio  river,  and  did  not  arrive  in  Rockford 
until  December  1,  1837. 

He  did  farm  work  for  three  years,  and  then 
apprenticed  himself  to  Thomas  Thatcher,  a 
joiner,  carpenter  and  architect,  with  wages  at 
$5.00  per  month  and  board.  At  the  end  of  one 
year  he  felt  competent  to  start  in  business  for 
himself  in  the  same  line.  He  worked  by  the 
day  and  did  contract  work  until  1853,  when  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  P.  Howes  to  engage 
in  the  lumber  trade.  Their  yard  was  located 
where  the  East  Rockford,  Chicago  &.  North- 
western passenger  station  now  stands,  which  was. 


94 


ROCKFORD 


at  that  time,  the  terminal  of  the  Chicago  &  Gal- 
ena railway.  When  the  railway  was  extended 
across  the  river  in  1853  they  removed  the  yard 
to  the  West  side,  where  they  did  business  until 

1856,  when  they  sold  out  to  Mr.  Freeman. 

In  November,  1856,  Mr.  Lake  visited  his 
old  home,  returning  to  Rockford  in  February, 

1857,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  again 
on  the  corner  of  Third  and  State  streets,  where 
he  did  business  until   1859,  when  he  sold  out  to 
Cook  &  Bro.     In  1863  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Henry  Fisher  on  the  West  side,  and  carried 
on  the   lumber  business  until    1867,  when  he 
again  sold  out  and  re-visited  England,  extending 
his  journey  to  Ireland,  Scotland,  France,  Italy, 
Switzerland  and  Germany,  returning  to   Rock- 
ford  in  the  fall.     In  1868  he  formed  a  five-year 
partnership  with  Seely  Perry,  which  was  termi- 
nated in  1874,  after  which  he  spent  three  years 
in  Europe.     He  visited  California  in  1885. 

He  was  vice  president  of  the  Rockford  Fire 
Insurance  Co.  from  1866  to  1886,  when  he  was 
made  president. 

In  1873  he  was  elected  an  alderman  from 
the  Second  ward,  and  served  continuously  for 
ten  years,  a  part  of  this  time  he  was  also  its 
supervisor. 

In  1877  he  was  the  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Education. 

He  was  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Representative  to  the 
Sovereign  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States 
for  six  consecutive  years. 

Mr.  Lake  was  married  to  Miss  Almeda  M. 
Danley,  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Sarah  Dan- 
ley,  of  Harlem,  Illinois,  October  11,  1849. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  but  three 
died  in  infancy. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  2211  East 
State  street. 


HORACE    BROWN. 

Horace  Brown  was  born  in  Springfield,  Wind- 
sor county,  Vermont,  June  24,  1824.  He  is  a 
descendant,  on  his  father's  side,  of  one  of  our 
oldest  American  families  which  traces  its  line- 
age to  Edward  Brown,  who  was  born  in  1591, 
in  Horton,  Kenby  county,  Kent,  England,  and 
who  came  to  America,  arriving  February  17, 


1634,  on  the  ship  Hopewell  from  London,  Eng- 
land, and  settled  in  Ipswich,  Mass. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Elisha  Brown, 
was  born  in  Ipswich,  Mass.,  January  7,  1748, 
and  removed  to  Hingham,  Mass.,  where  he  mar- 
ried Merriel  Bates,  and  settled  in  Winchendon, 
Mass.,  in  1773.  He  was  a  patriot  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary War,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  He  removed  to  Springfield,  Ver- 
mont, in  1778,  where  the  father  of  our  subject, 


,  HORACE    BROWN. 

Jonathan  Brown,  was  born  October  5,  1796. 
His  mother,  Hannah  Stocker  Brown,  was  of 
English  and  Scotch  descent,  whose  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  and  at  York- 
town,  when  Cornwallis  surrendered.  His 
great  grandfather  Bates  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill. 

Horace  Brown  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  county.  He  assisted  upon  his 
father's  farm  until  twenty  years  of  age  when  he 
engaged  to  work  one  season  for  William  Thayer, 
whose  daughter,  Mary  A.,  he  afterward  married. 

In  1845  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
floor  oil  cloth  in  Lansingburgh,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
remained  until  1850,  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 


ROCKFORD 


95 


arriving  in  Rockford  May  12th.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  township  at  that  time  was  about  1 ,800. 

He  purchased  a  farm  in  New  Milford  town- 
ship which  he  leased,  and  returned  to  his  home 
in  the  east  where  he  was  married  September 
12.  1850,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Thayer,  who  was 
born  February  16,  1827,  and  immediately  re- 
turned to  Rockford. 

The  following  spring  he  returned  to  Lansing- 
burgh,  where  he  worked  in  the  oil  cloth  factory 
until  June,  1853,  when  he  again  returned  to 
Rockford  and  traded  his  farm  for  West  side 
property,  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in 
partnership  with  W.  G.  Reynolds.  After  two 
years  of  successful  business  he  sold  out  his  in- 
terest and  returned  to  his  native  town,  where  he 
engaged  in  several  lines  of  business.  In  the 
spring  of  1859  he  again  returned  to  Rockford, 
where  he  has  since  resided  on  what  is  known  as 
Park  Ridge,  on  the  East  side  of  the  river.  The 
home  is  one  of  the  most  beautifully  located  in 
the  city. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Rock- 
ford  National  Bank,  and  has  served  as  its  vice 
president  since  its  organization  in  1871.  He 
was  also  a  charter  member  of  the  Forest  City 
Insurance  Co.,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of 
its  board  of  directors  and  as  treasurer  and  vice 
president.  He  was  elected  president  of  the 
Skandia  Furniture  Co.  upon  its  organization. 
He  also  served  as  director  and  president  of  the 
Insurance  Company  of  the  State  of  Illinois  dur- 
ing the  first  years  of  its  business.  Upon  the 
death  of  Gilbert  Woodruff  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Rockford  National  Bank 

William  Thayer  Brown,  only  son  of  Horace 
and  Mary  Brown,  was  born  in  Rockford,  Illinois, 
March  2,  1854.  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  A. 
G.  Spaulding  &  Bros.  He  resides  in  East 
Orange,  N.  Y.  His  office  is  at  126  Nassau 
street,  New  York.  He  married  Miss  Mary  L. 
Spaulding,  August  24,  1875,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 23,  1854,  and  has  four  children,  Horace 
S.,  Harriet  Irene,  William  Thayer,  Jr.,  and 
Elizabeth. 

Alice  C.  was  born  March  26  1856.  She 
married  D.  H.  Ferguson,  of  Denver,  Colorado, 
and  had  one  son,  Donald  Brown  Ferguson.  She 


died  March  23,  1890.     Carrie  A.  was  born  July 
27,  1860,  and  died  April  10,  1885. 


JOHN   DEXTER  WATERMAN 

was  born  in  Decatur,  Otsego  county,  New  York, 
December  27,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Hamilton 
and  Mary  Waterman. 

When   sixteen  years  of  age,  he  became  a 


JOHN    DEXTER    WATERMAN. 

clerk  in  a  general  store,  at  Worcester,  New 
York,  Eighteen  months  later  he  entered  the 
United  States  Naval  service  and  served  on  Ad- 
miral Porter's  flagship  during  the  last  year  of 
the  civil  war.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  came 
to  Rockford  and  engaged  in  railroading  and  man- 
ufacturing interest/  He  served  as  Rockford's 
postmaster  under  both  Cleveland  administrations. 

He  organized  the  Forest  City  National  Bank 
and  was  made  its  president,  which  office  he  still 
holds.  Although  this  bank  is  one  of  the  youngest 
in  the  city,  its  business  and  reliability  ranks  sec- 
ond to  none. 

Mr.  Waterman  married  Miss  Emma  J. 
Wolford,  of  Cohoes,  New  York,  in  1871.  The 
family  residence  is  at  No.  754  North  Church 
street. 


96 


ROCKFORD 


HON.   E.  W.  BROWN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Judge  William  Brown,  and  was  born  in 
Rockford.  August  8,  1857,  which  city  has  since 
been  his  home.  There  is  no  other  resident  of 
Rockford  today,  whose  life  and  development  has 
been  so  much  an  integral  part  of  the  city's  growth 
and  vital  interests  as  that  of  Mr.  Brown.  Here 
is  where  he  received  his  education,  in  the  city 


HON.    E.    W.    BROWN. 

schools,  and  developed  business  abilities  which 
are  rarely  attained  by  the  most  astute  in  business 
matters.  For  a  time  he  attended  the  school  at 
Mt.  Morris,  but  was  obliged  to  give  up  study  on 
account  of  the  strain  upon  his  eyes  and  entered 
an  active  business  life. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Brown  & 
Eckstine  Drug  Co. .which  did  a  prosperous  busi- 
ness for  five  years,  the  volume  of  business  reach- 
ing as  high  as  $60,000.00  per  year.  After  dis- 
posing of  his  interests  in  the  drug  business  he 
entered  the  wholesale  oil  business.  He  secured 
a  contract  with  the  Standard  Oil  Co.  by  which 
he  was  able  to  get  oil  on  the  best  possible  terms 
and  to  supply  many  surrounding  towns  with  this 
product.  He  built  the  first  oil-tank  in  Rockford, 


and  equipped  himself  thoroughly  for  doing  a  large 
business.  His  success  in  this  business  is  meas- 
ured by  the  fact,  that  he  did  a  cash  business 
amounting  to  $30,000.00  in  six  months  on  a 
capital  of  $3,000.00,  when  he  sold  his  oil  busi- 
ness to  John  R.  Porter  &  Co. 

In  1884  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  planning  to  build  an  air  line  from  Chi- 
cago to  Freeport,  and  in  their  survey  decided  to 
build  leaving  out  Rockford  and  locate  their  line 
east  of  New  Milford,  crossing  the  river  at  Hois- 
ington  Rocks  below  Rockford. 

Judge  Brown,  who  was  personally  acquainted 
with  Mr.  E.  T.  Jeffries,  general  manager  of  the 
Illinois  Central,  and  Stuyvesant  Fish,  president 
of  the  road,  made  it  a  personal  matter  to  see 
that  Mr.  Jeffries  came  to  Rockford  to  look  the 
city  over  prior  to  a  final  settlement  upon  the 
location  of  the  line.  Mr.  Jeffries  visited  Rock- 
ford  with  Isaiah  Randolph,  chief  engineer  of  the 
road,  and  was  entertained  at  Judge  Brown's 
home.  They  met  with  a  number  of  prominent 
manufacturers,  including  Ralph  Emerson,  W.  A. 
Talcott,  John  P.  Manny,  H.  W.  Price  and  Gil- 
bert Woodruff,  and  that  night  Mr.  Jeffries  deci- 
ded to  build  into  Rockford. 

The  services  of  Mr.  Brown  were  secured, 
and  he  at  once  proceeded  to  obtain  a  right  of 
way  for  the  new  line.  Active  operations  in  pro- 
moting this  valuable  enterprise  for  the  city  of 
Rockford  were  instituted  on  the  first  day  of  No- 
vember, 1884. 

Mr.  Brown  was  constituted  the  first  agent  of 
the  company  in  this  city,  which  position  he  still 
holds.  His  thorough  business  ability  is  recog- 
nized by  the  company,  and  his  advice  is  sought 
after  in  important  matters,  and  his  judgment  is 
implicitly  relied  upon. 

There  is  doubtless  no  other  agent  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  company  that  has  so  great  an  influ- 
ence in  the  conduct  of  its  business  as  does  Mr. 
Brown.  Through  his  effort,  sagacity,  and  busi- 
ness tact,  a  small  business  in  1884,  has  grown 
until  it  exceeds  that  of  any  other  railway  inter- 
est in  the  city  to-day  in  its  property  investments 
and  volume  of  business.  The  company  now 
owns  a  frontage  of  800  feet  on  South  Main 
street,  and  a  yardage  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in 
length  free  from  grade  crossings.  Its  passenger 


ROCKFORD 


97 


and  freight  buildings  are  the  finest  in  the  city. 
Its  freight  business  now  averages  eighty  cars  per 
day  and  its  passenger  business  is  large.  Forty 
people  are  given  employment  in  the  various  de- 
partments of  the  company's  business  in  the  city. 

In  1885,  Mr.  Brown  was  elected  an  alder- 
man from  the  old  Second  ward  for  seven  years. 
His  work  in  the  council  demonstrated  the  fact 
that  he  was  admirably  fitted  to  preside  at  the 
head  of  the  city's  affairs,  and  in  1895  he  was 
elected  mayor.  This  honor  was  conferred  upon 
him  again  in  1897  and  1899.  After  a  continu- 
ous service  of  six  years  as  mayor  of  the  city, 
Mr.  Brown  felt  that  his  railway  and  private  busi- 
ness imperatively  called  for  so  much  of  his  time 
that  he  could  not  possibly  give  the  attention  to 
the  duties  imposed  upon  the  mayor  and  declined 
further  service  in  this  office.  In  1903,  great 
pressure  was  brought  to  bear  upon  him  to  secure 
his  consent  to  a  re-election,  but  for  the  reasons 
above  stated,  he  steadfastly  declined  the  honor. 

During  Mayor  Brown's  administration,  many 
of  Rockford's  most  valuable  permanent  improve- 
ments were  made,  Through  his  effort  and 
recommendation  the  present  system  of  water 
supply  was  instituted  in  1897,  and  was  put  into 
effective  operation  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Mead,  at  a 
cost  of  $50.000,00  and  affords  a  supply  of 
7,000,000,  gallons  of  water  daily.  The  water 
works  park  was  a  product  of  the  general  im- 
provements instituted.  The  present  system  of 
macadamizing  was  instituted,  which  is  doubtless 
the  most  economical  and  the  best  in  the  world. 
As  a  result  of  this  system,  Rockford  now  enjoys 
the  use  of  more  than  forty  miles  of  macadam- 
ized streets.  The  fire  department  was  provided 
with  more  efficient  means  for  doing  effective 
service.  Mayor  Brown's  appointees  to  the  var- 
ious city  offices  were  men  eminently  fitted  for 
the  position  they  occupied. 

A  review  of  Mayor  Brown's  several  annual 
messages  to  the  council,  demonstrates  a  deter- 
mination to  adhear  to  a  rigid  economy  in  the 
expenditure  of  the  city  funds,  a  just  and  exact 
enforcement  of  the  laws,  and  together  with  the 
co-operation  of  the  council  to  so  administer  the 
city  government  as  to  insure  stable  progress  and 
permanent  good. 

Mr.  Brown  married  Miss  Lizzie  A.  White,  a 
daughter  of  Joshua  White,  a  prominent  citizen 


and  large  land  owner  of  Stillman  Valley,  Illinois, 
and  has  three  children.  The  family  residence 
is  at  No.  312  South  Third  street. 


CHARLES  SABIN 

Was  born  at  Pomfret,  Conn.,  in  1823,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  and  private  schools  of 
New  England.  He  came  to  Rockford  in  1854, 


CHARLES    SABIN. 

where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Sabin  engaged 
in  the  drug  business  shortly  after  his  arrival  here, 
and,  when  he  retired  in  1893,  was  the  oldest 
druggist,  with  reference  to  number  of  years  en- 
gaged, in  this  city.  His  business  career  was  one 
of  integrity  and  honor,  and  was  marked  with 
that  success  to  which  such  a  career  is  justly  -en- 
titled. He  was  recently  the  honored  guest  of 
his  friends  and  associates  in  business  at  a  ban- 
quet given  at  the  Nelson,  which  occasion  was 
greatly  enjoyed  by  all  those  participating.  Mr. 
Sabin  was  married  in  New  Hampshire,  in  1846. 
His  present  residence  is  No.  835  North  Church 
street,  where  he  has  resided  during  the  last  forty 
years  in  the  same  house.  This  house  is  now 
in  the  central  part  of  the  city,  but,  when  first 
occupied  by  Mr.  Sabin,  was  quite  out  in  the 


ROCKFORD 


country.  During  his  business  career  here,  he 
has  seen  the  place  grow  from  the  habiliments  of 
a  hamlet  to  those  of  a  magnificent  city,  and  his 
life  has  been  an  integral  part  of  this  growth. 
Indeed  the  city  owes  its  prosperity  and  substan- 
tial growth  to  the  integrity  and  business  energy 
of  such  of  its  solid  business  men  as  Mr.  Sabin 
has  proved  himself  to  be.  He  is  entitled  to  the 
laudation  of  his  fellowmen  and  to  the  rest  he 
now  enjoys. 

LOREN  L.  MORRISON 

Was  born  at  Hebron,  Jefferson  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, November  18,  1852,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Sherburne,  Woodstock  and 
Hartland,  Vermont.  He  was  a  student  at  the 
Worcester  Academy.  Worcester,  Massachusetts' 
and  at  Waterville  Classical  Institute,  Waterville, 
Maine,  and  was  graduated  in  the  classical  course 
from  Knox  College,  Galesburg,  Illinois,  June  26, 
1879.  During  the  first  four  years  after  gradua- 
tion he  occupied  the  position  of  Principal  of  the 
graded  and  high  schools  of  Lyndon,  Whiteside 
county,  Illinois,  and  at  the  same  time  gave  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  law  under  the  direction 
of  the  Hon.  John  G.  Manahan,  of  the  firm  of 
Manahan  &  Ward,  of  Sterling,  Illinois,  and  later 
continued  his  legal  studies  with  the  firm  of 
Staples  &  Goulding  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

He  came  to  Rockford  June  12,  1883,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  here  he  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar,  and  has  since  given  his  attention 
to  general  law  practice,  devoting  considerable 
attention  to  practice  in  the  United  States  courts 
and  patent  cases. 

Mr.  Morrison  has  served  the  city  as  police 
magistrate  during  the  last  sixteen  years,  and 
the  administration  of  the  office  has  been  emi- 
nently satisfactory  to  the  people. 

Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
order,  having  been  made  a  Mason  in  1 889,  join- 
ing Rockford  Lodge  No.  102.  He  has  taken 
the  Scottish  Rite  degrees  up  to  and  including 
the  thirty-second,  his  membership  being  with 
Freeport  Consistory.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Royal  League,  of 
which  he  is  past  supreme  vice  archon. 


Judge  Morrison  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Louise  Ball  of  Holden,  Massachusetss,  June  19, 
1882,  and  has  three  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison  are  members  of  the 
State  Street  Baptist  Church. 

Politically,  Judge  Morrison  is  a  staunch 
Republican. 


HON.  ROBERT  H,  TINKER 
Is  a  son  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Reuben  Tinker,  and 
was  born  at  Honolulu,  Sandwich  Islands,  (now 
the  Republic  of  Hawaii)  December  31,  1836, 
and  came  to  Rockford  in  1856.  He  has  been 
identified  prominently  in  the  manufacturing  in- 
terests and  substantial  growth  of  Rockford,  and 
is  largely  interested  in  the  water-power,  the 
source  of  Rockford's  wealth  and  prosperity.  He 
was  promotor  and  president  of  the  Chicago, 
Rockford  &  Northern  Railway  Co.,  which  road 
is  now  merged  in  the  Burlington  system,  has 
served  as  mayor  of  the  city,  (1875-6),  presi- 
dent of  the  Rockford  Water  Power  Co.,  and 
of  the  Rockford  Bolt  works,  and  is  connected 
officially  with  many  other  Rockford  industries. 
Mr.  Tinker  is  a  connoisseur  in  art  work  and  his 
aesthetic  taste  is  conspicuously  shown  in  and 
about  his  beautiful  home.  Nature  has  done 
much  to  make  this  spot  romantic,  and  Mr. 
Tinker  has  so  harmonized  his  improvements 
with  the  imprints  of  nature  that  the  place  is  a 
"thing  of  beauty  and  a  joy  forever."  In  the 
home  is  a  large  collection  of  curio,  obtained  by 
Mr.  Tinker  in  his  foreign  travels.  It  also  con- 
tains a  library,  unique  in  construction  and  filled 
with  rare  and  costly  volumes. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Tinker  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Manny,  the  widow  of  John  H.  Manny,  the 
noted  inventor  and  manufacturer  of  harvesting 
machines.  His  inventions  paved  the  way  for 
much  of  Rockford's  wonderful  growth  and  suc- 
cess. Later  on,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tinker  disposed 
of  the  beautiful  Manny  home  on  South  Main 
street  and  made  their  permanent  residence  in 
the  Swiss  cottage,  where,  after  years  of  happy 
wedded  life,  Mrs.  Tinker  was  called  home,  leav- 
ing a  devoted  husband  and  a  host  of  friends  to 
mourn  her  loss.  Mr.  Tinker's  skill  and  aesthe- 
tic taste  will  be  called  into  service  in  the  beau- 
tifying of  the  public  Library  and  Memorial  hall 
grounds. 


ROCKFORD 


99 


COLONEL  WILLIAM  NELSON. 

Col.  William  Nelson  was  born  at  Sycamore, 
.llinois,  October  29,  1857,  and  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools  and  high  school  of  Rockford. 
He  entered  a  business  career  while  young,  in 
which  he  has  attained  eminent  success,  and 
now  holds  prominent  official  and  executive 
positions  in  several  of  Rockford's  most  sub- 
stantial institutions. 

Col.  Nelson  and  brothers  erected  the  beauti- 
ful Hotel  Nelson  as  a  memorial  to  their  father, 
the  inventor  of  the  Nelson  Knitting  Machine, 
and  founder  of  the  Nelson  Knitting  Company. 

The  Nelson  is  a  popular  hostelry,  and  its 
parlors  are  utilized  for  the  purpose  of  holding 
elaborate  social  functions  and  political  commit- 
tee meetings. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  president  of  the  Nelson  Hotel 
Company,  vice-president  of  the  Forest  City 
Knitting  Company,  vice-president  of  B.  F. 


COLONEL  WILLIAM   NELSON. 

Barnes  &  Company,  and  director  in  the  Nelson 
Knitting  Company. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Freeport 
Consistory,  Shriner  Tebala  Temple,  Rockford. 
and  Knight  Templar  Crusader  Commandery,  of 
Rockford,  and  the  Elks. 


He  was  appointed  as  one  of  the  Governor's 
aids,  with  rank  as  colonel,  January  28,  1901. 

Colonel  Nelson  was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie 
Olson  of  Rockford,  October  6,  1888,  and  has 
five  children,  Loiza,  Elsie,  William  Jr.,  Hilding 
and  Dorothea. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  737  North 
Main  street. 


WILLIAM   F.  WOODRUFF 

Was  born  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  1858,  and  came 
to  Rockford  with  his  parents  in  1859,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  was  educated  in  the  city 
schools  and  the  Rockford  Business  College. 


WILLIAM  F.    WOODRUFF. 

When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the 
Rockford  National  Bank  as  messenger,  and  was 
elected  to  the  position  of  assistant  cashier  of 
the  bank  January  11,  1881.  In  January,  1888, 
he  was  elected  cashier,  which  position  he  still 
holds.  The  bank,  with  which  he  has  been  iden- 
tified for  so  many  years,  is  one  of  the  strongest 
and  most  reliable  financial  institutions  in  the 
state.  Its  capital  is  $100,000.00,  and  has  a 
surplus  of  the  same  amount. 

Mr.  Woodruff  has  been  instrumental  in  the 
development  of  many  of  Rockford's  most  im- 


1OO 


ROCKFORD 


portant  improvements.  Seventh  street,  one  of 
the  finest  business  streets  in  the  city,  owes  its 
success  largely  to  the  efforts  and  financial  aid 
of  Mr.  Woodruff.  The  railway  system  found  a 
friend  in  Mr.  Woodruff,  and  its  success  and  per- 
petuity are  due  to  his  timely  aid.  He  is  a  large 
real  estate  owner,  and  devotes  much  time  and 
money  in  its  improvement  for  the  beautifying  of 
the  city  and  the  good  of  its  citizens. 

Mr.  Woodruff  is  a  director  and  treasurer  of 
the  Rockford  and  Interurban  Railway  and  the 
Rockford  and  Freeport  line.  He  is  a  director 
and  treasurer  of  the  Insurance  Company  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  and  assisted  in  its  organization. 
He  is  the  vice  president  and  director  of  the 
Forest  City  Furniture  Company,  treasurer  of  the 
Central  Heat  and  Power  Company,  director  in 
the  Hixon  Map  Company,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Country  club. 

He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  treas- 
urer in  1 893  and  served  two  years  and  was  again 
elected  to  this  office  in  1903. 

He  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the 
Forest  City  Land  and  Lumber  Company  in  1903. 
The  company  owns  10,000  acres  of  timber  land 
in  the  Yazoo  Valley,  in  Mississippi,  and  is  now 
erecting  a  mill  at  Woodruff,  named  in  honor  of 
Mr.  Woodruff.  The  principal  office  of  the  com- 
pany is  in  Rookford. 

Mr.  Woodruff  married  Miss  Lizzie  C.  Cot- 
ton, of  Rockford,  and  resides  at  No.  515  North 
Main  street. 


HON.   FREDERICK  HAINES 

Is  a  son  of  Anthony  and  Adaline  (Rowse)  Haines, 
who  settled  in  Rockford  in  1 854.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  Marietta,  Pa.,  and  his  mother  of 
Bucyrus,  Ohio,  who  were  married  in  1853. 
Anthony  Haines  was  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness in  Rockford  for  many  years,  and  carried  on 
an  important  manufacturing  plant  for  several 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  county  board 
of  supervisors  for  eighteen  years,  and  represented 
the  First  ward  in  the  city  council  in  1863  and 
1864. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Rock- 
ford,  August  30,  1863,  and  was  educated  in  the 
city  schools,  graduating  from  the  High  School 
in  the  class  of  79. 


He  first  engaged  in  business  with  J.  McDer- 
maid  in  the  coal  trade  with  whom  he  remained 
one  year.  He  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  Rockford  Street  Railway  Co.,  and  was  its 
superintendent  until  the  plant  was  changed  to 
electric  power.  He  then  spent  two  years  with 
the  Rockford  Construction  Co. 

In  1900  he  was  elected  to  the  important 
position  of  treasurer  of  the  Forest  City  Insur- 
ance Co.,  which  position  he  now  holds.  This 
company's  business  ranks  with  the  foremost 
companies  of  the  country  and  is  widely  and 
favorably  known. 

In  the  political  campaign  of  1902  Mr.  Haines 
was  nominated  on  the  Republican  ticket  as  a 
candidate  for  representative  in  the  State  legisla- 


f 


HON.    FREDERICK    HAINES. 

ture,  and  was  elected  by  a  large  majority.  At 
the  session  of  1903  he  was  placed  on  several 
important  committees,  and  his  services  were 
most  acceptable  to  his  constituency. 

Socially,  he  is  a  Mason,  K.  of  P.,  and  Elk. 

Mr.  Haines  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie 
Bushnell,  of  Sterling,  in  1887,  and  has  one  son. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  620  East 
State  street. 


ROCKFORD 


101 


RUSSELL  BROUGHTON.  M.   D., 

Was  born  in  Racine,  Wisconsin,  May  16,  1842. 
His  parents,  John  and  Amanda  Broughton,  re- 
moved from  Hoosick  Falls,  New  York,  by  horse 
team,  in  1841 ,  to  Albany  township,  Green  county, 


RUSSELL    BROUGHTON,    M.    D 

Wisconsin,  where  they  entered  a  quarter  section 
of  government  land.  His  father  died  upon  the 
farm  in  1896.  His  mother  is  still  living. 

Dr.  Broughton  attended  Milton  College  at 
Milton,  Wisconsin,  and  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Commercial  College  at  Milwaukee.  He  grad- 
uated from  Rush  Medical  College  in  1869,  and 
practiced  medicine  at  Brodhead,  Wisconsin, 
twenty-one  years.  He  was  in  charge  of  all 
opium  and  other  drug  patients  for  nine  and  one- 
half  years  at  the  Keeley  Institute,  at  Dwight, 
Illinois. 

Two  years  ago  he  opened  a  Sanitarium  in 
Rockford,  where  he  gives  special  treatment  in 
nervous  and  drug  cases.  The  Sanitarium  is 
beautifully  located ,  and  is  a  quiet  retreat  for  those 
desiring  medical  attention  for  such  ailments. 

Socially,  Dr.  Broughton  is  a  member  of 
Bicknell  Lodge  No.  91,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Brod- 
head, Wisconsin  ;  Evansville  Chapter,  No.  35, 
R.  A.  Masons,  Evansville,  Wisconsin  ;  a  char- 
ter member  of  the  W.  W.  Patton  Post  No.  90, 


Brodhead,  Wisconsin,  a  member  of  the  Wis- 
consin Medical  Society  since  1877,  and  of  the 
American  Medical  Association. 

He  resides  at  the  Sanitarium. 

Dr.  Broughton  was  married  to  Miss  Julia 
A.,  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  Daniel  Smiley  of 
Albany,  Wisconsin,  in  1869,  and  has  two  sons, 
William  S.,  who  is  a  medical  student  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  and  James  R.,  in  the  employ  of  a 
large  electrial  power  plant  company  at  Provo, 
Utah. 


HON.   HENRY  ANDRUS 

Is  a  native  of  Illinois,  having  been  born  on  a 
farm  in  the  town  of  Harlem,  Winnebago  county, 
November  4,  1844,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  resided  on  the  farm  until 


HON.    HENRY    ANDRUS. 

his  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie  Love  in  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  the  township  of 
Pecatonica,  where  he  resided  six  years.  He 
then  removed  to  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Cherry 
Valley,  where  he  remained  until  his  removal  to 
Rockford  about  five  years  ago. 

Mr.  Andrus  served  as  the  supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Cherry  Valley  for  nineteen  consecutive 


102 


ROCKFORD 


years,  and  during  that  time  he  was  honored  by 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  by  being  made  its 
chairman  for  seven  consecutive  years,  a  distinc- 
tion not  attained  by  any  of  his  contemporaries. 

He  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the 
State  legislature  in  1896  and  re-elected  in  1898. 
In  1900  he  was  elected  to  the  upper  house,  and 
still  represents  the  Tenth  Senatorial  district  as 
its  senator. 

Socially,  Mr.  Andrus  is  a  thirty-second  de- 
gree Mason,  member  of  the  Order  of  Elks  and 
a  Modern  Woodman.  He  is  married  and  has 
two  children  living,  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Edith  Scott, 
who  resides  on  the  farm  in  Cherry  Valley,  and 
a  son,  Dr.  S.  C.  Andrus,  a  practicing  physician 
of  this  city.  The  father  and  mother  of  Mr.  An- 
drus are  still  living  and  reside  with  their  daugh- 
ter. Mrs.  J.  A.  Atwood,  at  Stillman  Valley. 

Mr.  Andrus  has  a  brother  who  resides  at 
Mason  City,  Iowa. 

The  present  home  of  Mr.  Andrus  is  at  624 
North  street  in  this  city. 

Among  the  more  important  measures,  for 
which  Senator  Andrus  is  entitled  to  credit  in 
securing  enactment  into  law,  is  the  enabling  act, 
which  gave  the  people  of  Winnebago  county  the 
right  and  privilege  of  voting  for  an  appropriation, 
by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  of  a  sum  of  money 
for  the  building  of  the  Memorial  Hall  in  memory 
of  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  Winnebago  county. 

He  also  rendered  conspicuous  service  in 
securing  the  enactment  of  the  measure  provid- 
ing for  the  building  of  the  monument  at  Still- 
man Valley.  Also  several  measures  in  the 
interests  of  public  libraries. 


Hon.  John  Lake,  attending  school  at  the  old  East 
side  high  school.  Professor  Freeman,  who  was 
then  principal,  placed  him  in  the  Intermediate 


ROBERT  REW 

Was  born  in  England  in  1855.  When  eight 
years  old  he  was  set  to  work  on  a  farm,  receiv- 
ing as  wages  four  cents  a  day,  continuing  until 
in  his  twelfth  year,  during  which  time  his  wages 
were  annually  raised  until  they  reached  thirteen 
cents  a  day. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  free  public  schools 
in  England,  and  young  Rew  acquired  the  first 
rudiments  of  education  at  night  school  and  Sun- 
day school. 

In  1867  he  came  to  Rockford,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  first  lived  in  the  family  of 


ROBERT    REW. 

department,  but  so  well  did  he  apply  himself  to 
his  studies  that  he  reached  the  high  school  in 
three  years,  about  half  the  time  usually  required. 

In  1871  he  engaged  with  Mr.  Reuben 
Sovereign  on  the  latter's  farm,  just  east  of  the 
city,  for  twelve  dollars  a  month  and  board. 
After  working  about  five  months  he  returned  to 
Rockford,  determined  to  continue  his  course  in 
school.  Out  of  his  wages  he  had  saved  forty- 
four  dollars,  and  obtaining  a  place  at  the  home 
of  the  late  Hon.  John  Early,  doing  chores  for 
his  board,  he  succeeded  after  much  self-denial 
and  privation,  not  only  in  getting  through  another 
year  of  school,  but  in  actually  saving  out  of  his 
forty-four  dollars,  sixteen  dollars. 

In  the  summer  vacation  he  hired  out  for  two 
months  to  work  for  Mr.  Joshua  White  on  his 
farm  at  Stillman  Valley,  for  thirty  dollars  a 
month  and  board.  At  the  end  of  two  months, 
with  $59.75  the  young  man  returned  to  Rock- 
ford,  again  staying  at  Mr.  Early 's,  doing  chores 
for  his  board,  and  attending  school,  graduating 
the  same  year,  1873,  valedictorian  of  his  class. 
During  the  summer  vacation  he  again  went  to 


ROCKFORD 


103 


work  in  the  harvest  field  at  thirty  dollars  a 
month  and  board.  After  working  two  months 
with  the  sixty  dollars  earned,  Mr.  Rew  went  to 
the  Northwestern  University,  at  Evanston. 
After  paying  a  term's  tuition,  a  month's  board 
and  buying  text  books,  his  money  was  all  spent. 
Obtaining  work  at  digging  cellars  and  unloading 
vessels  at  the  wharf,  he  succeeded  in  earning 
enough  money  to  pay  his  way  through  the  first 
year  in  college. 

Returning  to  Rockford  in  the  fall  he  taught 
a  district  school  during  the  winter,  at  the  same 
time  keeping  up  with  his  class  in  the  University, 
and  by  dint  of  hard  work,  hard  study  and  much 
privation,  succeeded  in  completing  three  years 
of  the  college  course.  At  the  end  of  the  third 
year  he  came  back  to  Rockford  in  July  with 
only  fifty  cents  in  money  left. 

The  first  thing  necessary  was  to  find  some 
work,  and  on  East  State  street  he  found  a  cord 
of  wood  to  be  sawed.  Borrowing  a  buck  and 
saw  the  young  man  went  vigorously  to  work. 
While  at  work  the  late  Judge  William  Brown 
passed  by,  and  requested  Mr.  Rew,  after  he  had 
finished  his  job,  to  come  and  stay  at  his  home 
for  the  rest  of  the  summer  and  tutor  "Eddie," 
"Frankie"  and  "May,"  as  the  Judge  lovingly 
called  them. 

The  Judge  had  scarcely  gone  out  of  sight 
when  the  late  J.  T.  Miller,  for  a  long  time 
assessor  of  the  town  of  Rockford,  and  then  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  the  city  of  Rock- 
ford,  came  by  and  after  a  short  conversation 
hired  Mr.  Rew  to  teach  in  the  Second  Gram- 
mar School  of  East  Rockford.  The  wages  were 
$450  per  year  for  ten  months'  work.  The  first 
year  there  was  an  assistant  teacher,  but  the 
second  year  Mr.  Rew  contracted  to  do  all  the 
work  for  $600  a  year.  The  four  following  years 
Mr.  Rew  taught  in  the  schools  of  Rockford,  in 
the  high  school  on  the  East  Side,  under  the  late 
Professor  Freeman,  and  in  the  high  school  on 
the  West  Side,  under  Professor  Blodgett.  Among 
his  pupils  were  the  Hon.  Charles  W.  Ferguson, 
Hon.  Frank  S.  Regan,  Mr.  Frank  Brown,  Hon. 
Wm.  C.  Butterworth,  Mr.  Hosmer  Porter,  Mr. 
Samuel  Stanley,  Mr.  Charles  Porter,  and  many 
other  well  known  citizens. 

He  not  only  taught  in  the  schools,  but  as 
tutor  of  Latin  and  mathematics  after  school 


hours,  prepared  pupils  for  entrance  to  the  uni- 
versities. Among  those  whom  he  so  tutored 
are  Mrs.  Stanwood,  formerly  Miss  Louisa 
Brockway,  Miss  Julia  Lathrop  and  Mrs.  Fred 
Thompson. 

In  1879  Mr.  Rew  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Nellie  T.  Goodwin,  daughter  of  the  late 
Dr.  A.  E.  Goodwin. 

While  teaching  he  studied  law  nights,  and 
in  1882  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  following 
spring  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  to 
complete  the  term  of  the  late  Justice  Works. 

When  the  first  public  sewer  was  laid  in 
Rockford,  the  commissioners  appointed  to 
assess  the  cost  were  the  late  Hon.  Thomas 
Butterworth,  the  late  J.  T.  Miller  and  Mr.  Rew. 
This  was  the  Church  street  sewer.  Every 
property  owner  but  one  filed  objections,  and 
every  lawyer  at  the  then  Rockford  bar  appeared 
to  contest  the  assessment,  but  the  assessment 
stood.  The  same  commissioners  also  made 
the  assessment  for  the  Market  street  sewer.  In 
1885  Mr.  Rew  was  appointed,  with  the  late 
Mayor  N.  C.  Warner,  to  revise  the  city 
ordinances. 

Mr.  Rew  has  a  large  law  practice,  especially 
in  the  handling  of  estates.  He  has  traveled 
quite  a  little,  having  been  to  Europe  twice,  and 
all  over  the  United  States  and  the  British 
possessions  in  North  America. 


H.  C.  SCOVILL. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
were  natives  of  Connecticut,  but  removed  to 
Oneida  county,  New  York  in  1816.  H.  C. 
Scovill  was  born  in  Oswego  county,  New  York, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 
spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  the  farm.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1 853  and  settled  in  Ogle  county, 
where  he  still  worked  at  farming.  He  was  a 
student  at  the  Mount  Morris  Seminary.  In  Aug. 
1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  K,  92nd 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  made  a  second  lieu- 
tenant of  his  company  and  afterward  promoted 
to  first  lieutenant  and  captain.  His  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
The  regiment  was  afterward  ordered  mounted 
by  General  Rosecrans  and  to  be  equipped  with 
Spencer  rifles.  This  was  done  and  the  regi- 


IO4 


ROCKFORD 


ment  then  joined  General  Wilder's  Lightning 
Brigade  of  mounted  infantry.  Captain  Scovill 
was  captured  April  23,  1864,  while  on  picket 
duty,  near  Tunnel  Hill,  Gsorgia,  and  remained 
a  prisoner  ten  months  at  Macon,  and  Atlanta. 


H.  c.  SCOVILL. 

Georgia;  Charleston  and  Columbia,  South  Caro- 
lina; and  Charlotte  and  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 
He  was  exchanged  at  Wilmington,  North. Caro- 
lina, March  1,  1865.  He  rejoined  his  regiment 
at  Concord,  North  Carolina,  and,  with  the  regi- 
ment, was  mustered  out  of  service  at  that  place, 
June  21,  1865.  The  following  September,  he 
came  to  Rockford  and  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  until  1896.  Hewas  a  member  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  five  years.  He  represented 
the  Second  ward  as  an  alderman  in  the  council 
from  1878  to  1886,  and  in  1887,  was  elected 
mayor,  which  position  he  held  two  years.  In 
1897  he  was  elected  city  clerk,  which  office  he 
still  holds.  Captain  Scovill  was  married  in 
Rockford  to  Miss  Rosa  Zoller  in  1872,  and  has 
two  children,  Gertrude,  who  is  Mrs.W.  W.  Ben- 
nett, and  Charles,  who  is  ticket  agent  at  the  Illi- 
nois Central  office  in  Rockford.  He  resides  at 
617  Seminary  street. 


SAMUEL  H.  RECK. 

Samel  H.  Reck  was  born  in  Rochester,  Pa., 
December  14,  1866,  and  was  educated  at 
Augustana  College,  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where 
he  took  his  degree  in  1886.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary,  Phil- 
adelphia, in  1890,  and  from  the  law  department 
of  the  Northwestern  University  in  1895. 

He  was  the  founder  of  St.  Mark's  English 
Lutheran  church  in  Boston,  Mass.,  1890-93, 
which  is  the  first  institution  of  the  kind  in  that 
city. 

Mr.  Reck  practiced  law  in  Chicago  and 
Rockford  from  1895  to  1899.  He  is  one  of 


SAMUEL  H.  RECK. 

the  organizers  of  the  manufacturing  company, 
B.  F.  Barnes  Company,  of  Rockford. 

Mr.  Reck  entered  the  employ  of  the  Equitable 
Life  Assurance  Society  of  the  United  States  in 
April,  1902,  and  has  been  the  general  agent  of 
the  Rockford  district  since  January,  1903.  The 
offices  are  at  Nos.  312  and  314  West  State 
street,  Rockford,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Reck  married  Miss  Anna  C.,  only 
daughter  of  John  Nelson  of  Rockford,  111.,  June 
29,  1892,  and  has  three  sons. 


ROC  K  FO  R  D 


105 


Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  and  the  K.  of  P. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  906  Sem- 
inary street. 


WILLIAM  KNAPP. 

William  Knapp  was  born  in  Eldred,  McKane 
county.  Pa.,  April  23.  1839,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  also  at 
the  academy  of  Olean,  N.  Y. 


WILLIAM  KNAPP. 

He  removed  to  Winnebago  county,  Illinois, 
in  November,  1854,  and  located  in  the  town  of 
Burritt,  and  paid  his  first  taxes  in  this  state  in 
1850.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  the  well  drilling 
business  in  which  he  was  very  successful,  both 
practically  and  financially  He  followed  this 
business  for  about  fifteen  years,  during  which 
time  he  acquired  several  farms  at  the  price  of 
about  fifteen  dollars  an  acre,  which  he  was  able 
to  sell  later  on  for  seventy-five  dollars  per  acre. 

Mr.  Knapp  served  as  town  clerk  for  ten  years 
and  was  then  elected  town  supervisor  which 
office  he  held  from  1879  to  1888. 

In  1888  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Rockford 
and  was  here  again  elected  to  the  office  of  sup- 
ervisor in  which  capacity  he  has  since  served 


continuously,  with  the  exception  of  about  three 
years.  His  service  as  supervisor  covers  a 
period  of  about  twenty- four  years,  during  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  which  time  he  has  been 
the  purchasing  agent  for  the  county,  rendering 
most  acceptable  service. 

He  served  as  a  director  of  the  Forest  City 
bank  for  several  years.  He  was  elected  to  the 
city  council  as  an  alderman  from  the  first  ward 
in  1895  and  served  two  years. 

Mr.  Knapf.  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness in  1886,  in  which  he  has  met  with  marked 
success.  His  son,  C.  H.  Knapp,  joined  him  in 
this  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wm.  and 
C.  H.  Knapp,  which  was  later  changed  to 
Knapp,  Barnes  &  Co..  at  which  time  Wm  H. 
Barnes  came  into  the  firm.  The  firm  has  a 
fine  office  at  the  corner  of  State  and  Main 
streets,  on  the  ground  floor  of  the  Second 
National  Bank  building,  and  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  most  reliable  real  estate  firms  in  this 
section  of  country.  The  firm  buys  and  sells 
houses  and  lots,  and  farms,  and  also  writes 
insurance.  The  motto  of  the  firm  is  "Small 
margins  and  quick  sales,"  The  loaning  of 
money  is  one  of  the  principal  features  of  this 
business. 

Mr.  Knapp  has  been  a  member  of  Star  in 
the  East  Masonic  lodge  for  many  years,  and  is 
a  Modern  Woodman. 

Mr.  Knapp  was  married  to  Miss  Martha 
Scott  of  Burritt,  in  1 864,  and  has  seven  children, 
one  of  whom,  Charles  H,.  is  married.  The 
family  resides  at  1506  East  State  street,  which 
has  been  the  family  home  since  1870. 


FRED  E.  STERLING. 

Was  born  at  Dixon,  111.,  June  29,  1869,  being 
the  third  son  of  Edward  and  Irene  Bivins 
Sterling,  early  settlers  of  that  section.  The  first 
ten  years  of  his  boyhood  were  spent  in  Dixon, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  1880, 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Huron,  S.  D.,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  that  place.  They  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  Central  Dakota  (then  a 
territory),  the  subject  of  this  sketch  assisting 
his  father  and  brothers  in  developing  one  of  the 
first  farms  in  Beadle  county.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  at  Huron  during  the  winter  terms 


io6 


ROCKFORD 


and  worked  on  his  father's  farm  during  the 
summer  until  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  when 
he  entered  newspaper  work  with  the  Huron 


FRED  E.  STERLING. 

Daily  Times,    which    avocation    he    has   since 
followed,  until  within  the  past  two  years. 

Mr.  Sterling,  in  his  boyhood,  was  constantly 
thrown  in  with  men  of  much  more  mature  years 
than  himself,  socially,  politically  and  in  a  busi- 
ness way,  in  the  development  of  the  Territory 
and  thus  acquired  a  knowledge  which  the  schools 
could  not  give  him  and  which  has  proved  useful 
in  the  years  since.  On  the  promotion  of  Judge 
Louis  K.  Church  of  Huron,  to  the  Governorship 
of  Dakota,  Mr.  Sterling,  who  in  spite  of  his 
youth  had  been  his  close  friend  and  companion, 
was  appointed  to  the  position  of  assistant  com- 
missioner of  immigration,  in  which  capacity  he 
had  much  to  do  with  the  preparation  and  dis- 
tribution of  literature  and  statistics  extolling  the 
wonders  of  the  Territory,  resulting  in  its  rapid 
settlement  by  home-seekers  from  the  eastern 
states.  Near  the  close  of  his  term  of  office  he 
resigned  this  position  to  accept  the  management 
of  the  Dakota  edition  of  the  St.  Paul  Daily 
Globe,  a  supplement  issued  with  the  daily  each 
Saturday  and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the 
Territory.  In  1890  he  came  to  Rockford  to 


accept  the  city  editorship  of  the  Morning  Star, 
which  paper  he  served  for  a  year  and  left  to  take 
a  similar  position  with  the  Register-Gazette  on 
the  consolidation  of  the  two  afternoon  news- 
papers. In  the  service  of  the  latter  he  continued 
for  nine  years  when  he  resigned  to  take  up  a 
different  line  of  work.  During  that  period  he 
also  served  as  the  special  Rockford  correspond- 
ent of  the  Associated  Press,  Inter-Ocean,  Times- 
Herald,  Evening  Post,  Globe- Democrat  and 
other  metropolitan  papers. 

Ever  since  he  became  a  resident  of  Rock- 
ford  Mr.  Sterling  has  taken  an  active,  aggressive 
part  in  the  political,  social  and  business  life  of 
the  city  and  lent  his  hearty  assistance  to  every 
movement  looking  to  its  progress,  welfare  and 
up-building.  He  enjoys  the  honor  and  distinc- 
tion of  having  been  the  youngest  man  ever 
elected  in  Rockford  as  a  member  of  the  City 
Council,  being  chosen  to  succeed  Alderman 
Sturtevant  of  the  third  ward.  He  continued  to 
represent  that  ward  as  an  alderman  for  eight 
years,  until  the  spring  of  1903,  when  he  declined 
a  unanimous  caucus  renomination  because  of 
other  conflicting  duties.  He  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leaders  of  the  council,  a  fine  parlia- 
mentarian and  ready  debater.  During  his  term 
of  office  he  served  either  as  chairman  or  a 
member  of  the  most  important  council  com- 
mittees, was  for  three  years  secretary  of  the 
board  of  local  improvements,  and  secured  for 
his  ward  many  needed  improvements,  including 
the  new  Blake  school  building.  On  his  retire- 
ment from  the  council  he  was  presented  by  his 
friends  with  a  very  handsome  diamond  ring. 

Mr.  Sterling  is  a  stanch  republican  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  county  and  state  politics, 
serving  as  a  delegate  from  Winnebago  county 
in  every  state  convention  for  half  a  dozen  years 
past.  He  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as 
secretary  of  the  Winnebago  County  Republican 
Central  Committee,  and  during  the  presidential 
and  gubernatorial  campaign  of  1900  was  secre- 
tary and  manager  of  the  Press  Bureau  conducted 
by  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  in 
Chicago,  supplying  party  literature  and  statistics 
to  the  country  press. 

In  1901  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Richard 
Yates  as  land  commissioner  of  the  Illinois  & 
Michigan  Canal,  and  during  the  legislative  ses- 


ROCKFORD 


107 


sion  of  1903  served  as  assistant  secretary  to  the 
Chief  Executive  at  Springfield.  He  enjoys  an 
extensive  acquaintance  with  and  the  friendship 
of  a  host  of  prominent  citizens  and  politicians 
throughout  the  state. 

In  February,  1901 ,  Mr.  Sterling  was  appoint- 
ed receiver  of  the  Manufacturers'  &  Merchants' 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  Rockford,  by  the 
Circuit  Court.  He  made  an  enviable  record 
for  himself  in  winding  up  the  affairs  of  this 
company,  paying  all  loss  claims  in  full  and 
securing  his  final  discharge  within  two  years 
from  the  date  of  his  appointment,  a  feat  never 
before  accomplished  by  the  receiver  of  a  mutual 
insurance  company  in  the  United  States. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Elks,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Royal  League,  Modern  Woodmen  and 
Home  Fraternal  League. 

On  October  1,  1903,  Mr.  Sterling  purchased 
an  interest  in  The  Register-Gazette,  of  which 
paper  he  is  the  editor. 

On  December  17,  1891,  Mr.  Sterling  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  C.  Parmele  and  two 
children  have  blessed  the  union,  Arthur  and 
Olive.  His  home  is  at  110  West  street. 


R.  H.  SHUMWAY. 

R.  H.  Shumway  was  born  in  New  Milford, 
Illinois,  July  26,  1842,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent 
upon  the  farm  and  there  is  where  he  acquired 
the  knowledge  requisite  to  the  success  of  his 
present  business.  In  1871  he  began  to  realize 
the  importance  of  the  production  of  thoroughly 
good  seed  as  the  best  means  of  success  to  the 
farmer  and  gardner,  and  gave  special  attention 
to  their  development.  By  close  attention  to 
business  and  economical  investment  he  has 
made  a  grand  success  of  his  undertaking  and 
has  acquired  a  large  competence,  valued  at 
about  a  million  of  dollars. 

His  customers  reside  in  every  state  and 
territory  in  the  Union,  and  for  the  last  several 
years  have  numbered  100,000  annually.  Dur- 
ing the  busy  season  he  employs  from  seventy-five 
to  eighty  people.  He  employs  no  traveling 
salesmen,  but  advertises  his  business  by  means 
of  catalogues  and  agricultural  papers.  It  requires 
two  carloads  of  paper  for  each  edition  of  his 


catalogues,  and  these  are  sent  direct  to  the 
planters.  The  Rockford  postoffice  receives  a 
large  business  and  revenue  from  the  Shumway 
seed  business. 

Mr.  Shumway  removed  from  New  Milford 
to   Rcckford  in    1873,  and  resides  at  No.  325 


R.  H.  SHUMWAY. 

South  First  street.  His  warehouse  is  at  Nos. 
118,  120  and  122  South  First  street.  Mrs. 
Shumway  died  in  1899.  Five  children  are 
now  living. 

Mr.  Shumway's  parents  came  from  Vermont 
and  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kishwaukee 
river  in  1836,  soon  after  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
His  mother,  Sallie  Greeley,  was  a  cousin  to 
Horace  Greeley,  of  newspaper  fame.  The 
country  was  then  "the  wild  and  woolly  west," 
and  infested  by  the  notorious  outlaws,  called  the 
Banditti  of  the  Prairie. 


P.  R.  WALKER. 

Peleg  Remington  Walker  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  July  1,  1835. 
When  four  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to 
East  Brooklyn,  now  Danielson,  where  he  attend- 
ed the  district  school  until  twelve  years  old. 
He  then  worked  on  the  farm  summers  and  at- 


io8 


R  OC  K  F  O  R  D 


tended  school  winters.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he 
attended  the  West  Killingly  academy  during  the 
fall  and  winter.  In  November,  1852,  he  began 
teaching  in  the  North  Bigelow  district  in  Hamp- 
ton, Conn.  The  following  summer  he  worked 
with  his  father  who  was  a  carpenter  and  builder. 
In  the  winter  of  '53  and  '54  he  taught  the  South 
Parish  school  in  Killingly.  At  that  time  he 
began  preparation  for  a  college  course,  and  at- 
tended school  the  following  winter.  In  the 
spring  of  1855  he  was  obliged  to  forego  study 
on  account  of  weak  eyes,  brought  on  by  an 
attack  of  measles. 

In  April,  1856,  he  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Scott  township,  Ogle  county,  Illinois. 
During  the  following  fall  and  winter  he  taught 
a  seven  months'  term  of  school  at  Lynville. 
The  following  summer  he  broke  prairie,  and 
taught  the  Smith-Woodburn  school  during  the 
winter. 

His  success  in  teaching  was  such  that  he 
felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  prepare  himself  for  this 
profession  and  at  the  close  of  his  school  he 
entered  the  Normal  University  at  Bloomington, 
111.,  where  he  took  a  full  course  and  such  ad- 
vanced work  as  was  afforded  at  that  time.  He 
graduated  from  the  University  in  June,  1861, 
and  taught  at  Dement  the  following  year. 

The  Civil  war  being  in  progress  Mr.  Walker 
felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  enlist  in  the  army  in 
defense  of  his  country,  and  on  August  12,  1862, 
he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  K,  92nd 
Illinois  Volunteers.  The  regiment  was  sent  to 
Camp  Fuller  where  it  remained  until  October 
10,  1862,  when  it  left  for  the  front,  The  regi- 
ment was  mounted  in  July,  1863,  and  supplied 
with  repeating  rifles.  He  participated  in  the 
advance  on  Chattanooga,  was  with  Hooker  at 
Lookout  Mountain  and  saw  the  battle  of  Mission 
Ridge,  and  was  with  Sherman,  in  Kilpatrick's 
cavalry,  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  on  the 
march  to  Savannah.  He  received  a  slight 
wound  when  in  the  advance  on  Raleigh.  He 
was  promoted  to  sergeant,  first  sergeant,  lieuten- 
ant and  had  charge  of  his  company  during  its 
last  year's  service. 

Before  being  discharged  from  the  army,  he 
was  engaged  to  teach  the  Dement  school,  where 
he  remained  eight  years.  He  was  then  invited 


to  Rochelle  at  an  advanced  salary  which  he 
accepted.  After  twelve  years  of  successful 
work  at  Rochelle,  he  was  appointed  superintend- 
ent of  the  Rockford  city  schools,  to  which 
position  he  has  received  his  twentieth  appoint- 
ment. The  schools  have  made  excellent 
progress  under  his  supervision  and  rank  among 
the  best  in  the  state.  His  report  for  1902  will 
be  found  in  the  school  article  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Walker  has  been  a  regular  attendant  at 
the  National  and  State  Teachers'  Associations. 
He  served  several  years  as  treasurer  of  the 
State  Teachers'  Association,  and  in  1890  was 
its  president.  He  has  been  the  president  of  the 
Northern  Illinois  Teachers'  Association  and  a 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  for 
more  than  twenty  years. 

Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Mr.  Walker  married  Miss  Martha  E.  Webb 
of  New  York,  and  has  one  daughter.  The 
family  residence  is  at  No.  716  North  Church 
street. 


WILLIAM  WORTH  BURSON. 

William  Worth  Burson  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  family  removed  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  in  1842,  and  to  Fulton  county 
the  following  year,  where  his  boyhood  and 
early  manhood  was  passed,  thus  sharing  the 
experiences  of  pioneer  life. 

For  the  successful  operation  of  his  farm 
work,  he  invented  and  constructed  a  self-rake 
reaper  in  1858,  which  was  the  first  machine  to 
regulate  the  size  of  the  gavel  by  weight. 

Mr.  Burson  was  a  pioneer  in  the  invention 
of  grain  binders  and  obtained  a  patent  on  a 
twine  binder  in  1860.  This  was  the  first  patent 
on  a  machine  to  make  the  present  grain-binder 
knot.  He  followed  this  model  with  two  machines, 
using  wire  instead  of  twine,  for  the  harvest  of 
1860.  These  machines  were  attached  to  the 
reaper  and  operated  by  hand.  These  were  first 
brought  into  prominence  by  being  operated  at 
the  great  reaper  trial  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  in  the 
harvest  of  1862. 

Emerson  &  Company  contracted  to  make 
one  thousand  machines  for  Mr.  Burson  for  the 
harvest  of  1863,  the  first  one  thousand  grain 
binders  ever  made  He  came  to  Rockford  for 


ROCKFORD 


109 


the  purpose  of  carrying  out  this  contract,  where 
he  resided  until  1881,  when  he  removed  to 
Chicago.  On  account  of  imperfect  workman- 
ship, lack  of  field  experts  and  other  adverse 
circumstances,  these  machines  were  a  failure 


WILLIAM  WORTH  BURSON. 

financially  and  the  venture  disastrous,  leaving  a 
heavy  debt  upon  Mr.  Burson,  which  was  not 
entirely  liquidated  until  1901. 

In  1866,  in  company  with  the  late  John 
Nelson,  under  the  firm  name  of  Burson  &.  Nelson, 
the  invention  of  a  family  knitting  machine  was 
jointly  undertaken.  Mr.  Nelson  was  obliged  to 
give  his  attention  largely  to  his  sash,  door  and 
blind  factory  for  some  time,  but  Mr.  Burson 
applied  himself  closely  to  the  business  in  hand 
and  after  much  tedious  labor  by  both,  a  power 
machine  was  perfected.  Upon  these  machines 
patents  were  issued  to  Burson  and  Nelson  in 
1868-1870  and  1875,  and  in  1874  one  on  hose. 

On  December  25,  1869,  the  part  now  known 
as  the  "presser  hook"  was  developed.  On  July 
23d,  1870,  the  first  sock  was  knit  by  an  auto- 
matic machine  at  Rockford.  The  socks  came 
from  the  machine  joined  together  and  were 
separated  by  hand,  and  the  toes  closed.  This 


was  the  first  practical  automatic  knitting 
machine. 

In  1872-3  the  parallel  row  machine  was 
developed.  This  was  the  beginning  of  Rock- 
ford's  present  great  knitting  industry.  These 
machines  were  automatic  and  closed  to  toe  and 
heel,  producing  a  stocking  ready  to  wear,  without 
hand  work.  "Rockford  Seamless  Socks"  were 
pioneers  in  seamless  hosiery,  driving  the  old  line 
of  goods  out  of  the  market. 

In  1 878  Mr.  Burson,  having  withdrawn  from 
active  participation  with  the  Burson  &  Nelson 
business,  built  an  automatic  grain  binding  har- 
vester, and  a  knitting  machine  with  a  mitten 
pattern  having  a  double  wrist,  with  the  letters 
"Pat'd"  knit  therein,  also  a  patent  office  model, 
knitting  a  stocking  with  narrowed  ankle  and 
fancy  top.  containing  the  letter  -B,"  a  ribbed 
scarf  with  letters  at  each  end,  and  a  shirt  sleeve 
with  fancy  cuff  and  widening  to  the  body.  All 
of  these  articles  knit  with  change  of  yarn  and  on 
a  single  pattern. 

During  1879  to  1891  he  developed  a  number 
of  important  harvesting  inventions  which  were 
purchased  by  Whitely,  Deering,  McCormick, 
Walter  A.  Wood,  and  Milwaukee  and  Piano 
Harvesting  Companies. 

In  1 89 1  he  applied  himself  again  to  the  per- 
fection of,  knitting  machinery  and  in  1892 
brought  one  of  his  machines  to  Rockford. 
These  machines  were  modeled  after  those  of 
1878  and  their  product  is  being  shipped  from 
Rockford  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Burson  has  been  a  tireless  inventor,  and 
has  been  allowed  more  than  fifty  United  States 
and  foreign  patents  on  grain  binders,  grain  and 
corn  harvesters,  automatic  knitting  machines, 
knit  fabrics  and  other  lines  upon  which  he  has 
worked  and  on  which  he  is  still  actively  engaged. 


AMASA  HUTCHINS. 

Hon.  Amasa  Hutchins  was  born  in  Guilford, 
Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  June  1 ,  1 843,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 

He  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1862,  when 
he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  and  served  through 
the  war. 

Mr.  Hutchins  has  been  a  very  successful 
politician,  having  been  elected  sheriff  of  the 


I  10 


ROCKFORD 


county  and  mayor  of  the  city  of  Rockford  twice. 
In  1880  he  was  elected  sheriff  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket,  and  filled  the  office  with  credit  to 
himself  and  with  honor  to  the  county.  His  term 
of  office  as  sheriff  was  six  years. 


AMASA    HUTCHINS. 

In  1887  he  engaged  in  the  monument 
business,  which  he  successfully  carried  on  for 
fourteen  years. 

His  home  has  been  in  Rockford  since  1880, 
and  he  has  had  the  best  interests  of  the  city  at 
heart,  and  many  of  Rockford's  most  important 
improvements  are  due  to  his  efforts  and  official 
acts.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  new  library 
building,  and  did  much  toward  making  the  en- 
terprise a  success. 

In  1893  he  was  elected  mayor  by  a  large 
majority,  and  gave  the  city  an  excellent  admin- 
istration. In  1901  he  was  re-elected  to  this 
office,  and  during  this  administration  many  nota- 
ble municipal  improvements  were  made. 

He  was  the  builder  of  the  fine  steamer 
"  Illinois,"  and  was  thus  the  pioneer  in  the  nav- 
igation of  Rock  river  for  pleasure. 

Since  the  building  of  the  Illinois  other  pleas- 
re  boats  have  made  their  appearance,  and 


Rockford  has  become  a  center  for  pleasure 
seekers  from  the  surrounding  country.  Captain 
John  T.  Buker  is  interested  with  Mr.  Hutchins 
in  the  management  of  the  boat,  and  together 
they  make  a  fine  success  of  the  business. 

Socially,  Mr.  Hutchins  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.,  Elks,  and  K.  of  G 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Harrod 
in  1873,  and  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  323  Bruce 
street. 


JOEL  B.  WHITEHEAD. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  a 
farm  near  Hillsboro,  Illinois,  January  31,  1864, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He 


JOEL  B.  w 


was  also  a  student  at  Beloit  College  two  years. 
After  leaving  Beloit,  in  1885,  he  taught  one 
term  of  school  in  a  district  northwest  of  Beloit. 
Mr.  Whitehead  came  to  Rockford  in  1886, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  began  his  busi- 
ness career  here  in  the  office  of  H.  W.  Price, 
where  he  remained  five  years.  During  the  last 
twelve  or  thirteen  years  he  has  done  a  prosper- 
ous business  in  real  estate,  loans  and  insurance, 
and  is  a  very  popular  dealer  on  account  of  strict 
integrity  and  fair  business  methods. 


ROCKFORD 


1 1 1 


He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education,  two  years  as  a  member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors  from  his  ward,  and  was  re- 
cently re-elected  for  another  term  of  two  years, 
a  director  in  the  Insurance  Company  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  a  director  in  the  Rockford 
National  Bank,  secretary  of  the  Winnebago 
County  Agricultural  Society  for  nine  years, 
and  a  director  in  the  Rockford  Chautauqua 
Association. 

As  a  supervisor  Mr.  Whitehead  has  served 
on  several  of  the  most  important  committees, 
and  exercised  a  strong  influence  in  preventing  the 
placing  of  the  Memorial  Hall  on  the  Court  House 
square  and  the  selection  of  its  present  site.  He 
served  as  the  secretary  of  the  Memorial 
Hall  committee  of  the  board  of  supervisors  for 
the  construction  of  the  building,  the  duties  of 
which  were  most  efficiently  discharged. 

During  his  long  service  as  secretary  of  the 
Agricultural  Society,  he  made  the  annual  fair  a 
success,  and  was  the  means  of  bringing  much 
business  to  Rockford. 

Mr.  Whitehead  married  Miss  Emma  A. 
Leach,  youngest  daughter  of  the  late  Shepherd 
Leach,  one  of  the  early  pioneers,  who  came  to 
Rockford  in  1838,  in  company  with  David  S. 
Penfield. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehead  have  two  children, 
Ruth  and  Loren  L.,  and  reside  at  848  North 
Main  street. 


AUGUST  P.   FLOBERG. 

One  of  the  most  popular,  strong  and  flourish- 
ing financial  institutions  of  Rockford  is  the 
Manufacturers'  National  Bank  of  which  August 
P.  Floberg  is  the  able  and  efficient  cashier. 
He  was  director  and  stockholder  from  this  bank's 
inception  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
same.  He  is  now  treasurer  and  director  of  the 
Mechanics'  Furniture  Company,  which  employs 
one  hundred  men,  and  has  a  capital  of  $75,000. 

Mr.  Floberg  was  also  one  of  the  chief  organ- 
izers of  the  Rockford  Manufacturing  Company 
which  was  formed  in  1889,  with  a  capital  stock 
of  $200,000,  employing  one  hundred  employes, 
and  is  treasurer  of  the  same.  He  is  director 
and  treasurer  of  the  Forest  City  Bit  &  Tool 
Company,  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Rock- 


ford  Posten  Publishing  Company,  and  is  a 
director  and  treasurer  of  the  Swedish  Building 
&  Loan  Association. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  "Wester  Gothland" 
Province,  Sweden,  October  5,  1856.  He  was 
but  eleven  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Rock- 
ford,  and  he  received  a  good  practical  education 
in  the  schools  of  the  city.  Later  he  accepted  a 
position  as  office  boy,  and  with  the  earnings 
thus  saved,  gave  himself  a  good  education  in 
the  Business  College  of  Rockford.  He  was 
then  book-keeper  for  different  institutions  and 
later  was  for  seven  years  secretary  for  the 
Central  Furniture  Company.  He  soon  became 
familiar  with  his  business,  and  has  developed 
into  one  of  the  most  thorough-going,  enterprising 
men  of  the  city.  He  is  a  bank  officer  of  marked 
executive  ability  and  vast  practical  experience 
and  is  possessed  of  those  characteristics  of 


AUGUST  P.   FLOBERC. 

energy,    promptness   and    sobriety,    which  ever 
secure  success. 

Miss  Augusta  Ekeberg,  who  became  his 
wife  in  Rockford  in  1880,  was  born  in  "Wester 
Gothland"  Province,  Sweden,  and  attained  her 
growth  and  received  her  education  here.  She 


I  12 


ROCKFORD 


came  to  this  country  with  her  parents  In  1870, 
and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  this  city. 

The  political  sympathies  of  Mr.  Floberg 
have  brought  him  in  line  with  the  Republican 
party  and  in  public  movements  he  has  ever  taken 
a  deep  interest.  He  and  Mrs.  Floberg  are 
identified  with  the  First  Lutheran  church  and 
he  was  trustee  for  a  number  of  years  and  is  the 
present  treasurer. 

Their  marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  four 
children,  Adelbert  R.,  Frances  E.,  Mamie  L., 
and  Freddie  F. 


JOHN  T.  SAVAGE. 

John  T.  Savage,  of  the  firm  of  Savage  &. 
Love  Company,  is  one  of  Rockford's  well  known 
manufacturers.  He  was  born  in  Canada,  April 
16,  1842,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 


JOHN  T.  SAVAGE. 

Mr.  Savage  came  to  Rockford  in   1866,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

In  1876  he  engaged  in  business  in  the  firm 
of  Savage  &  Love.  This  firm  is  now  known  as 
Savage  &  Love  Company,  and  is  doing  a  suc- 
cessful business,  the  factory  and  business  being 
located  on  South  Main  street. 


Mr.  Savage  has  been  married  and  has  six 
sons.  Mrs.  Savage  died  in  1901. 

Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A  R., 
Royal  League,  M.  W.  A.,  and  I.  0.  O.  F. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  927  Ferguson 
street. 


WILLIAM  DOBSON. 

William  Dobson,  one  of  Rockford's  promi- 
inent  manufacturers,  was  born  in  Winnebago 
county,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon 


WILLIAM    DOBSON. 

a  farm  in  the  town  of  Burritt.  He  came  to 
Rockford  in  1868,  and  was  employed  as  a  clerk 
and  in  other  work  for  several  years. 

He  served  one  year  as  janitor  at  the  old 
court  house  and  jail. 

In  1872  he  entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  F. 
Lander,  who  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
doors,  sash  and  building  material  on  the  water 
power.  Some  time  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Lan- 
der, in  1880,  Mr.  Dobson  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  Benjamin  Blakeman,  and  continued 
the  business,  which  in  1883,  was  incorporated 
as  the  Blakeman  &  Dobson  Manufacturing  Co., 
and  the  manufacture  of  dairy  churns  and  sup- 
plies was  added  to  the  business. 


ROCKFORD 


Mr.  Dobson  assumed  entire  control  of  the 
business  in  1897,  when  the  manufacture  of 
building  material  was  discontinued,  and  the 
name  was  changed  to  the  Dobson  Manufactur- 
ing Co.,  which  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  a  general  dairy  line  of  goods. 

The  company  has  built  up  a  large  and  pros- 
perous business,  and  its  product  is  shipped  to  its 
patrons  in  many  states. 


GEORGE  COLLIS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Portsmouth,  England,  in  April,  1852,  and  was 
educated  in  a  private  school  in  that  city.  His 


GEORGE  COLLIS. 

father  was  in  the  employ  of  the  English  govern- 
ment and  was  killed  while  engaged  in  placing  an 
engine  in  the  steamship  "Furg." 

Mr.  Collis  learned  the  trade  of  coppersmith 
while  young,  and  was  employed  in  this  business 
for  twenty-six  years.  He  removed  to  Canada 
in  1879,  where  he  continued  work  at  his  trade. 
He  came  to  Rockford  in  1891  for  the  purpose 
of  joining  with  Mr.  Charles  Andrews  in  the  wire 
works  business,  and  is  now  the  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Andrews  Wire  &  Iron  Works. 

Mr.  Collis  is  an  earnest,  conscientious 
Christian  and  an  efficient  worker  in  the  church. 


He  has  also  advanced  in  Masonry  to  the  Royal 
Arch  degree,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  Ben  Hur  in  this  city,  and  retains 
his  membership  in  the  Ancient  Foresters  to 
which  he  has  belonged  since  1871.  He  takes 
an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  young  men 
whom  he  delights  to  welcome  to  his  home,  where 
his  good  wife  entertains  them  with  good  things 
to  eat.  and  he  strives  to  inculcate  all  that  is 
best  in  manhood. 

Mr.  Collis  is  married  and  has  a  family  of 
five  children,  and  resides  at  1726  Chestnut  street. 


CHARLES  ANDREWS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  President 
of  the  Andrews  Wire  and  Iron  Works  of  this 
city. 


CHARLES   ANDREWS. 

He  was  born  in  London,  England,  May  30, 
1845.  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city. 

He  came  to  America  and  located  at  Hamil- 
ton, Canada,  in  1870,  where  he  resided  seven 
years.  He  removed  to  Rockford  in  1877,  where 
he  has  since  resided. 

His  first  engagement  here  was  with  Lock- 
wood  &  Lyman  in  the  wire  goods  manufacture 


ROCKFORD 


on  the  water  power,  and  remained  with  them 
eight  years,  when  he  began  the  manufacture  of 
those  goods  on  his  own  account  in  the  John 
Spafford  building  on  Madison  street. 

Twelve  years  ago  the  company  removed  to 
its  present  location,  and  has  met  with  phenomi- 
nal  success.  Mr.  Andrews  has  four  of  his  chil- 
dren with  him  in  the  business. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the 
Tribe  of  Ben  Hur,  and  the  Second  Congrega- 
tional church.  He  resides  with  his  wife  and 
family  of  six  children  at  813  Kilburn  avenue. 


GEORGE  L.  WILEY. 

George  L.  Wiley  was  born  in  Janesville, 
Wis.,  March  17,  1864.  His  early  youth  was 
spent  in  the  city  of  Lanark,  111.,  some  fifty 


GEORGE  L.  WILEY. 

miles  southwest  of  Rockford,  where  he  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  later 
took  a  short  college  course,  fitting  himself  more 
especially  with  a  view  of  engaging  in  a  com- 
mercial occupation,  selecting  the  banking 
business  For  several  years  after  completing 
his  studies,  he  resided  at  Omaha,  traveling 
throughout  Iowa  for  a  wholesale  hardware  com- 
pany. Following  this  he  was  admitted  to  a  full 


partnership  in  a  private  banking  firm  at  Leaf 
River,  111.,  assuming  the  position  of  cashier  and 
manager  of  the  bank,  which  position  he  filled 
for  six  years.  He  also  had  charge  of  quite  an 
active  local  fire  insurance  agency,  which  was 
one  of  the  departments  of  the  bank.  While  in 
charge  of  the  fire  Insurance  department  of  the 
banking  business,  he  decided  to  give  more 
attention  to  insurance  business,  and  when  the 
opportunity  offered,  resigned  from  the  bank  and 
accepted  a  position  with  the  Insurance  Company 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  one  of  Rockford's  fore- 
most fire  insurance  companies,  of  which  he  is 
at  the  present  time  secretary  and  manager.  He 
is  one  of  the  original  stockholders  of  the  com- 
pany, which  was  organized  in  1895,  and 
served  as  a  director  and  assistant  secretary  for 
a  number  of  years  prior  to  his  election  to  his 
present  position.  The  home  office  of  the  com- 
pany is  on  the  fifth  floor  of  the  Brown  building. 
Mr.  Wiley  is  married  and  has  one  daughter, 
residing  at  his  residence,  1120  North  Main 
street. 


THOMAS  D.  REBER. 

Thomas  D.  Reber  was  born  in  Reading,  Pa., 
December  II,  1863,  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
stock,  whose  ancestors  located  there  in  1738. 
His  father,  Bennville  B.  Reber,  died  in  1865, 
and  his  mother,  Mary  Ellen  (Dechert)  Reber, 
died  in  1899.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  Reading  Business  College,  and  a  three 
years  course  in  the  State  Normal,  at  Millers- 
ville.  Pa. 

In  April,  1883.  he  came  to  Rockford  and 
worked  for  Peter  Sames,  and  then  for  the  Cen- 
tral Union  Telephone  Co.  for  a  time,  after  which 
he  served  as  mailing  and  shipping  clerk  in  the 
office  of  W.  F.  &  John  Barnes  Co. 

In  September,  1884,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Perry  &  Lakin,  lumber  dealers,  and  in  Janu- 
ary, 1885,  he  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  La- 
kin,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Perry  & 
Reber. 

Five  years  of  successful  business  followed, 
when  in  April,  1890,  the  firm  of  Perry  &  Reber 
and  that  of  Lawler  &  Keeler  were  united  under 
the  firm  name  of  the  Rockford  Lumber  &  Fuel 
Company. 


ROCKFORD 


Mr.  Reber  was  elected  treasurer,  which 
office  he  held  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Perry,  the 
president  of  the  company  in  1900,  when  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  vice  president,  which 
position  he  still  retains. 


THOMAS    D.    REBER. 

During  the  thirteen  years  of  successful  busi- 
ness of  this  company,  the  number  of  employes 
has  increased  from  eight  to  forty-five,  the  num- 
ber of  horses  from  six  to  twenty-six. 

The  company  now  has  four  yards  and  offices 
in  Rockford,  besides  those  at  Beloit  and  White- 
water, Wis.  The  company's  business,  at  each 
point,  exceeds  that  of  any  other  concern  engaged 
in  these  lines. 

The  main  office  is  at  No.  201  East  State 
street. 

Mr.  Reber  was  an  original  stockholder  in  the 
Forest  City  National  Bank,  the  Star  Printing 
Co.,  Superior  Brick  Co.,  and  one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  member  of  the  first  board  of  directors 
of  the  Rockford  &  Freeport  Electric  Railway 
Co.,  one  of  the  organizers  and  first  board  of 
directors  of  the  Rockford  Merchants'  and  Busi- 
ness Men's  Association,  also  of  the  Rockford 
Manufacturers  and  Shippers  Association,  being 
elected  treasurer  of  each  without  opposition. 


In   1884  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  Third 
Regiment,  111.  N.  G.,  as  a  private,  and   Febru 
ary  2,  1886,  was  elected  first  lieutenant. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Rockford  Lodge 

A.  F.  &  A.  M.   No.    102;  Winnebago  Chapter 
Royal  Arch   Masons   No.  23;  Crusader  Com- 
mandery  No.    17;  Knights  Templar;    Freeport 
Consistory;  Ancient  Scottish  Rite  Mason  32nd 
degree,  and  Tebala  Temple  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. 
He  has  filled  the  highest  offices  in  most  of  the 
above  bodies.      He   is  also  a  member  of  the 

B.  P.  0.  Elks,  National  Union,  Royal  Arcanum 
and  Rockford  Germania  Society. 

Mr.  Reber  married  Miss  Lydia  Loyul, 
daughter  of  Wm.  and  Jane  Loyul  of  Rockford, 
May  20,  1886,  and  has  two  children,  Helen 
Jane,  born  June  17,  1889,  and  Edwin  Perry, 
born  September  1 ,  1 89 1 . 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  315  South 
Third  street. 


E.  H.  KEELER. 

E.  H.  Keeler  was  born  at  Janesville,  Wis., 
August  13th,  1863.  In  1869  he  moved  with 
his  parents  to  Beloit,  Wis.  He  was  educated 


E.   H.   KEELER. 


at   Beloit   public  schools,    Beloit    College    and 
Andover,  Mass.     He  entered  the  employ  of  the 


ROCKFORD 


lumber  and  coal  firm  of  Peet  &  Keeler  at 
Beloit  after  leaving  scnool  and  there  secured 
his  early  training  in  business.  After  three  years 
service  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  firm  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two. 

In  1888  Mr.  Keeler  came  to  Rockford  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Col.  Thomas  G. 
Lawler  under  the  firm  name  of  Lawler  & 
Keeler,  dealers  in  coal.  In  1890  the  Rockford 
Lumber  &  Fuel  Company  was  organized,  Mr. 
Keeler  being  made  secretary  and  treasurer, 
which  position  he  now  holds.  He  is  also  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  Keeler  Lumber  Com- 
pany of  Beloit,  Wis.,  and  Rockton,  111.,  vice- 
president  of  the  Forest  City  National  Bank  and 
President  of  the  Superior  Brick  Company. 

Mr.  Keeler  is  a  republican  in  politics,  is 
married  and  has  three  children. 


LEVI  RHOADES. 

Levi  Rhoades  was  born  in  Hinsdale,  Catta- 
raugus  county,  New  York,  June  25,  1830,  and 
died  at  his  home,  No.  710  North  Court  street, 
Rockford,  Illinois,  November  19,  1891. 

In  1836  Mr.  Rhoades  removed  from  his 
native  town  with  his  parents,  to  Troy,  Wisconsin, 
where  they  settled  on  a  farm.  He  assisted  in 
the  farm  work  and  attended  school  as  he  could 
get  opportunity  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  he  came  to  Rockford  and  worked  at 
anything  he  could  find  to  do  for  self  support. 

In  1848  he  entered  the  cooper  shop  of 
Harry  Landers,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  business.  In 
1853  he  bought  out  Mr.  Landers,  and  continued 
this  business  until  1884. 

In  1865  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Isaac 
and  C.  M.  Utter  &  Company,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  paper,  and  was  still  at  the  head  of  the 
firm  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

When  the  People's  Bank  was  organized, 
Mr.  Rhoades  was  one  of  its  heaviest  backers 
and  was  a  director.  He  was  a  prime  mover  in 
the  organization  of  the  Rockford  Watch  Com- 
pany, was  its  first  president,  and  a  director,  un- 
til his  death.  He  aided  in  the  removal  of  the 
Watch  Case  Company  from  Racine  to  Rock- 
ford,  and  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Phoenix 
Furniture  Company,  and  also  in  the  Boot  & 


Shoe  Company.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
held  responsible  positions  in  many  of  Rockford's 
important  industries  and  had  acquired  a  hand- 
some competence. 

He  was  a  member  of  Court  Street  church 
and  aided  liberally  in  the  construction  of  that 
fine  edifice,  his  donation  being  about  $6,000. 


LEVI    RHOADES. 

He  was  elected  mayor  in  1876  and  served 
one  term.  Mr.  Rhoades  married  Mrs.  Frederica 
(Reik)  Rhoades,  his  brother's  widow,  December 
24,  1854,  and  had  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  now  living. 


JEREMIAH   DAVIS. 

Jeremiah  Davis  was  born  in  Steuben  coun- 
ty, New  York,  June  2,  1826.  When  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Mil- 
ton, Rock  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  attended 
the  public  schools  and  Milton  Academy. 

His  first  business  effort  was  the  purchase  of 
eighty  acres  of  land  which  he  cultivated  until 
1850,  when  he  made  an  overland  trip  to  Califor- 
nia in  company  with  L.  P.  Knowlton  of  Water- 
loo, Wis.  He  located  a  miner's  claim  near 
Georgetown,  California,  which  he  worked  sue- 


R  OC  K  FO  R  D 


117 


cessfully  for  one  year.  Having  established  a 
residence  in  the  territory,  he  voted  for  the  adop- 
tion of  the  first  constitution  for  California,  in 
September,  1850,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Milton,  Wis. 


JEREMIAH    DAVIS. 

He  removed  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  in  1859, 
and,  when  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
Railway  was  projected  in  1874,  he  laid  out  and 
founded  the  town  of  Davis  Junction,  which  bears 
his  name.  He  owns  valuable  farm  lands  near 
Davis  Junction  in  Ogle  county, 

In  1881  he  removed  to  Rockford,  establish- 
ing a  residence  at  No.  216  North  Second  street, 
where  he  has  since  lived. 

Mr.  Davis  represented  the  town  of  Scott  on 
the  board  of  supervisors  of  Ogle  county  for  eight 
years.  He  was  the  representative  from  Ogle 
county,  in  the  State  legislature,  in  1871  and 
1872. 

After  coming  to  Rockford  he  was  elected  to 
the  council  from  the  First  ward  in  1885  and 
served  one  term. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order 
for  forty  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Western 
Society  of  California  Pioneers. 

Mr.  Davis  married  Miss  Jane  Goodrich  of 
Milton,  daughter  of  Hon.  Joseph  Goodrich,  in 


the  spring  of  1852,  and  has  six  children  :  J.  Mil- 
ton, Olive,  now  Mrs.  Woodman  of  Chicago, 
Henry  G.,  a  physician  at  Monroe  Center,  Charles 
E.,  Elbert  Lincoln  and  Mable,  now  Mrs.  Vande- 
mark  of  Rockford. 


L.  H.  BALEY. 

L.  H.  Baley  is  a  native  of  New  York  "state 
and  was  born  in  1843.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in 
1855,  and  came  to  Rockford  in  1883. 


Soon  after  coming  to  the  city  he  engaged  in 
the  ice  business  with  Mr.  Leonard,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Baley  &  Leonard.  In  1893  he 
organized  the  Rockford  Ice  Company  of  which 
he  is  the  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  company's 
business  has  grown  to  large  proportions.  It  owns 
immense  ice  houses  and  supplies  the  larger  part 
of  the  trade  in  the  city  with  ice.  From  fifteen 
to  eighteen  wagons  are  operated  during  the 
busy  season. 

Mr.  Baley  married  Clara  Miller  of  Marengo, 
Illinois,  in  1868,  and  has  one  daughter.  The 
family  residence  is  at  No.  222  North  Second 
street. 


ROCKFORD 


THEODORE  F.  HOPKINS. 

Theodore  F.  Hopkins  was  born  in  western 
New  York  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  Pike,  N.  Y.,  seminary.  He  came 
to  Rockford  in  1866  while  in  his  teens  and 
engaged  with  J.  S.  Sherman  as  bookkeeper,  in 


THEODORE  F.   HOPKINS. 

the  nursery  business.  During  this  engagement 
he  acquired  experience  in  the  business  and  after 
leaving  Mr.  Sherman's  employ  he  took  up  the 
nursery  business  in  connection  with  farming, 
on  a  tract  of  land  south  of  town,  which  he  had 
purchased  for  this  purpose. 

In  1876  he  exchanged  his  farm  for  an 
interest  in  the  tannery  business,  which  he  has 
since  carried  on  with  eminent  success.  His 
business  partner  is  Mr.  L.  M.  Hess. 

In  1883  a  corporation  was  formed  which  is 
known  as  the  Hess  &  Hopkins  Leather  Company 
and  the  business  facilities  were  very  much 
enlarged.  From  a  small  beginning  with  but  few 
employes,  in  close  quarters,  the  business  facilities 
have  expanded  until  a  large  area  of  land  is 
covered  with  fine  brick  structures  and  the  num- 
ber of  people  employed  increased  to  two  hundred. 
The  company  is  doing  practically  the  exclusive 
business  in  this  country  of  manufacturing  har- 


ness leather  and  then  manufacturing  this  into 
harness  goods.  Their  trade  covers  a  wide  area, 
their  goods  being  shipped  both  east  and  west, 
and  the  demand  for  them  is  constantly  increas- 
ing. Mr.  Hopkins  is  the  secretary-treasurer  of 
the  company  and  its  business  manager. 

Mr.  Hopkins  served  in  the  city  council  as  an 
alderman  from  the  seventh  ward  during '1885 
and  1886,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
school  inspectors  from  1896  to  1900.  Socially 
he  is  a  Modern  Woodman. 

Mr.  Hopkins  was  married  to  Miss  Alice 
Wheat  of  Rockford,  in  1878,  and  resides  at  No 
704  North  Church  street. 


L.   M.   HESS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  moved  from  Cen- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born, 
with  his  parents,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 


^^^^B 

L.    M.    HESS. 

Freeport,  Illinois,  in   1848,  and  where  he  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools. 

In  1862,  though  young,  he  felt  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  enter  the  army  in  defense  of  the  Union, 
and  enlisted  as  a  corporal  in  the  93rd  Regiment, 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  went  into  camp  at  Camp 
Fuller,  and  from  there  to  Camp  Douglass  where 


ROCKFORD 


119 


the  regiment  was  organized.  The  regiment 
joined  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  Vicksburg, 
Champion  Hill,  Chattanooga,  Mission  Ridge, 
Altona  Pass,  Yazoo  campaign,  and  was  with 
Sherman  in  his  notable  March  to  the  Sea. 

He  participated  in  the  Grand  Review  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
service  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  in  1865,  and 
returned  to  Freeport. 

In  1866  he  came  to  Rockford  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  leather  upon  the  site 
where  the  Hess  &  Hopkins  Leather  Co.'s  plant 

now  stands. 

He  was  first  connected  with  two  other  gen- 
tlemen from  Freeport  in  establishing  the  plant, 
which  was  later  leased  to  Benjamin  Hess,  his 
father,  and  Mr.  Tanner. 

In  1875  Mr.  Hess  took  the  business,  and  in 
company  with  Horatio  Stone  instituted  the  old 
method  of  tanning,  and  built  up  a  prosperous 
business. 

In  1877  Mr.  T.  F.  Hopkins  bought  an  inter- 
est in  the  institution,  and  the  business  was  ma- 
terially enlarged. 

In  1883  a  corporation  was  formed  under  the 
name  of  The  Hess  &  Hopkins  Leather  Co.,  and 
the  plant  was  again  enlarged.  Additions  have 
more  recently  been  made,  making  the  establish- 
ment one  of  the  largest  in  the  country.  Mr. 
Hess  is  the  vice  president  of  the  company,  and 
with  his  large  experience  and  constant  attention 
to  business  is  meeting  with  unbounded  success. 

Mr.  Hess  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Eveland,  October  27,  1870,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren living,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  B.  F., 
E.  L,,  Edith  and  Ruth.  The  family  residence 
is  at  No.  701  Kilburn  avenue. 


ELIJAH  WHITTIER  BLAISDELL 
Was  a  descendant  from  an  ancestry  among  whom 
many  have  been  numbered  with  the  most  promi- 
nent of  the  nation.  They  came  from  the  old  Norse 
stock,  a  Danish  family  of  that  name,  having 
imigrated  to  Wales  before  the  country  was  sub- 
dued by  Alfred  the  Great.  Its  members  were 
mostly  forge-men  and  sailors. 

Sir  Ralph  Blaisdell,  Knight,  married  a  mem- 
ber of  the  royal  family,  and  several  of  his  de- 
scendants were  members  of  parliament. 


The  progenitors  of  the  American  branch  of 
the  family  was  Enoch  Blaisdell,  who  died  in 
Wales.  His  widow  and  three  sons.  Enoch,  Ab- 
ner,  and  Elijah  came  to  America  about  twenty 
years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Ply- 
mouth Rock,  and  settled  at  Newburyport,  Mass. 


ELIJAH    WHITTIER    BLAISDELL. 

The  youngest  son  is  the  direct  ancestor  of 
Elijah  Whittier  Blaisdell,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  and  throughout  the  successive  genera- 
tions this  and  other  Bible  names  appear,  thus 
showing  the  religious  element  of  the  family, 

A  descendant  of  Elijah  Blaisdell  died  at 
Amesbury,  Massachusetts,  and  his  widow  mar- 
ried Nathaniel  Whittier,  a  member  of  the  same 
family  as  the  noted  poet,  John  G.  Whittier, 
whence  comes  the  name  of  our  subject. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Parrett  Blais- 
dell, served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  that 
of  1812.  He  is  referred  to  as  being  "hasty, 
brave,  and  fixedly  determined,"  as  well  as  noted 
for  his  blunt  honesty  and  his  hearty  and  sincere 
piety.  He  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six  years,  and  died  at  Fort  Covington,  New  York, 
in  1836.  His  brother  Daniel  was  also  a  promi- 
nent citizen,  and  served  as  a  member  of  Con- 
gress in  1808. 


I2O 


ROCKFORD 


Elijah  Whittier  Blaisdell,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
Montpelier,  Vermont,  in  1800,  and  removed  to 
Middlebury,  that  state,  in  1837.  He  was  pre- 
viously married  in  Montreal  to  Miss  Ann  Maria 
Deacon,  a  native  of  Wexford,  England,  and  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church.  On  the  18th 
of  July,  1826,  their  son,  Elijah  Whittier  Blais- 
dell, was  born  in  Montpelier,  Vermont,  where  he 
passed  his  boyhood  days.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  later,  when  his  father  removed 
to  Vergennes,  Vermont,  where  he  published  the 
Vergennes  Vermonter,  he  attended  the  classical 
school  in  that  village.  After  leaving  school  he 
entered  his  father's  printing  office,  and  with  this 
experience  and  extensive  reading,  in  later  years, 
he  acquired  a  broad  and  general  education  that 
surpassed  that  of  many  a  university  bred  man. 

He  shortly  assumed  the  editorship  of  the 
paper,  and  was  also  appointed  postmaster  of  Ver- 
gennes by  President  Taylor. 

To  a  man  of  his  ambition  his  environments 
soon  became  too  narrow,  and  he  resolved  to  seek 
a  home  in  the  west.  Acting  upon  this  determi- 
nation he  came  to  Rockford  and  purchased  the 
Forum,  which  he  published  for  ten  years. 

Changing  the  name  to  the  Republican  he 
again  resumed  editorial  work,  and  this  at  a  time 
when  vital  questions  of  public  concern  were  be- 
ing agitated.  He  was  soon  recogized  as  a  power 
in  the  community  and  acquired  an  extended  rep- 
utation. Activity  in  public  affairs  brought  him 
in  contact  with  Lincoln,  Palmer,  Schneider, 
Browning  and  others  at  the  meeting  in  Spring- 
field when  the  Republican  party  was  organized. 
He  made  a  strong  speech  in  favor  of  the  new 
principles  at  this  meeting,  and  upon  his  return 
to  Rockford  he  placed  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  at  the  head  of  the  columns  of  his  paper 
as  the  new  party's  candidate  for  the  presidency. 
It  is  a  matter  of  history  that  the  Rockford  Re- 
publican was  the  first  paper  to  suggest  the  name 
of  Lincoln  for  president. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  called  a  convention  in  Rock- 
ford  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  a  Republican 
candidate  for  Congress,  and  as  a  result  Elihu  B. 
Washburn  was  the  first  man  nominated  for  Con- 
gress by  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  vigorously  espoused  the  inter- 
ests of  the  farmer  in  behalf  of  a  lower  rate  of 
interest,  as  they  were  obliged  to  pay  as  high  as 


twenty  per  cent,  to  the  money  leaner.  Upon 
this  issue  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Illi- 
nois legislature  in  1859,  where  he  continued  the 
fight.  In  behalf  of  his  measure  he  made  one  of 
the  most  noted  speeches  ever  delivered  in  the 
house,  which  attracted  widespread  attention. 
The  measure  was  enacted  into  law,  and  was  a 
blessing  to  the  people  of  the  state.  He  was  also 
instrumental  in  securing  the  enactment  of  a  law 
giving  to  a  wife  the  right  to  use  her  own  property 
under  certain  circumstances  without  regard  to 
her  husband's  wishes.  Having  accomplished 
his  desires  at  Springfield  he  refused  a  renomina- 
tion  and  disposed  of  his  paper,  which  then  be- 
came known  as  the  Register,  and  is  now  the 
Register-Gazette. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  then  took  up  the  study  of  law, 
and  after  reading  thirty  or  forty  of  the  best  text- 
books on  the  subject,  made  application  for  ad- 
mission to  the  bar.  Judge  Peck,  one  of  the 
examining  committee,  having  heard  his  speech 
in  the  legislature,  expressed  surprise  that  he  was 
not  already  a  member  of  the  bar.  Such  was 
the  effect  of  this  speech  that  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  without  examination — a  most  grace- 
ful compliment  to  his  ability. 

His  success  as  an  attorney  was  pronounced 
from  the  beginning,  and  his  business  netted  him, 
the  first  year  „  between  three  and  four  thousand 
dollars,  and  he  was  equally  successful  during  his 
thirteen  years  of  practice, 

In  1884  he  changed  his  political  views  and 
supported  Mr.  Cleveland  for  the  presidency.  He 
was  a  staunch  friend  of  John  M.  Palmer,  and 
did  much  to  advance  his  political  interests. 

After  leaving  the  bar  he  gave  much  of  his 
time  to  literary  pursuits.  The  Petersons  pub- 
lished one  of  his  novels,  which  elicited  favorable 
comment  from  the  New  York  Sun,  World,  Eve- 
ning Post  and  Boston  Journal.  He  also  wrote 
a  political  burlesque  entitled,  "The  Rajah," 
which  met  with  great  success.  He  also  wrote 
a  number  of  poems  of  much  merit,  and  a  play 
entitled,  "  Eva,  the  General's  Daughter,"  found- 
ed on  incidents  of  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which 
was  well  received  by  A.  M  Palmer,  the  well 
known  theatrical  manager  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  was  twice  married  His  first 
wife,  Frances  Robinson,  died  soon  after  coming 
to  Rockford,  the  second  wife  was  Miss  Elizabeth 


ROCKFORD 


121 


J.  Lawrence,  daughter  of  Judge  Ville  Lawrence 
of  Vermont,  and  a  sister  of  the  late  Chief  Jus- 
tice C.  B.  Lawrence  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  died  January  14,  1901,  and 
left  a  widow  and  five  children,  Byron  Rich- 
ard of  Chicago ;  Henry,  a  lawyer  of  Chicago; 
Elijah  W.,  an  artist  of  New  York,  and  George 
and  Shelly  Pierpont  at  home.  The  family  resi- 
dence is  at  No.  1240  Council  Hill. 


E.  C.  DUNN,  M.   D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  Rock- 
ford's  most  foremost  and  best  known  citizens. 
He  is  a  descendant  of  a  prominent  Scotch  Irish 


E.   C.    DUNN,  M.  D. 

family,  which  traces  its  history  back  for  many 
generations. 

The  grand  parent,  Joseph  Dunn,  had  eight 
children,  of  which  Hiram,  the  father  of  Dr. 
Dunn,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Dr.  Dunn  is  the  youngest  of  six  children, 
and  was  born  in  Ontario  county,  New  York,  in 
1840. 

When  a  mere  boy  he  manifested  a  roving 
disposition  and  a  spirit  of  investigation.  It  was 
his  good  fortune  to  meet  Dr,  Peebles  when  but 


fifteen  years  of  age,  who  became  interested  in 
him  and  took  him  to  his  own  home,  where  he 
was  surrounded  with  all  the  advantages  for  cul- 
ture and  education  that  large  wealth  could  secure. 

Through  Dr.  Peebles  munificence  Dr.  Dunn 
received  a  very  broad  and  liberal  education, 
being  a  graduate  from  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  American  Eclectic  College  of  Med- 
icine, and  holds  a  certificate  from  the  State 
Board  of  Health  of  Illinois. 

Dr.  Dunn  is  a  noted  traveler,  having  visited 
all  the  inhabited  countries  of  the  globe,  and  has 
obtained  a  knowledge  of  the  habits,  religions  and 
characteristics  of  the  various  peoples  of  the  world. 
His  fund  of  information  is  inexhaustible,  and 
his  stories  of  travel  most  instructive  and  inter- 
esting. During  his  travels  he  made  a  very 
large  collection  of  curios,  gems  and  precious 
stones  of  inestimable  value,  but  met  with  the 
loss  of  many  of  these,  in  a  museum,  in  Chicago 
during  the  great  fire  of  1871. 

Dr.  Dunn  served  as  secretary  of  legation  at 
Trebizond,  Turkey,  where  his  benefactor,  Dr. 
Peebles  was  minister  from  this  country. 

Dr.  Dunn  established  a  home  in  Rockford 
in  1863,  but  has  spent  much  of  the  time  since  in 
travel  and  upon  the  lecture  platform.  His  lecture 
themes  cover  a  wide  range  of  subjects,  being 
equally  at  home  in  matters  of  science,  religion, 
art  and  politics.  He  has  lectured  In  many  of 
the  largest  cities  in  the  world,  and  has  spoken 
to  audiences  ranging  from  a  few  hundred  in 
number  to  many  thousands. 

His  palatial  home  in  Rockford  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  many  beautiful  homes  in 
the  city.  Externally  it  is  of  oriental  design,  and 
its  internal  arrangement  and  finish  is  one  of  the 
most  artistic  of  the  Queen  Ann  pattern.  The 
parlors  are  finished  in  ebony  and  gold.  The 
dining  room  is  octagon  in  shape,  and  is  finished 
in  walnut  and  cherry  and  lighted  by  windows  of 
opalized  glass.  The  house  is  fitted  with  the 
most  modern  and  convenient  appliances  and  is 
a  model  of  beauty. 

Dr.  Dunn  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  Etts, 
in  Marshall,  Michigan,  July  27,  1859,  and  has 
two  children,  Aeola,  wife  of  Richard  Hamlyn  of 
Rockford,  and  James,  who  married  Miss  Emma 
Patterson,  and  resides  in  Chicago. 


122 


ROCKFORD 


Mrs.  Dunn  displayed  great  ability  as  an  art- 
ist, and  her  work  has  received  high  commenda- 
tions from  the  best  artists.  Her  latest  work, 
"Pythias  Before  the  Block,"  is  a  painting  six 
feet  by  four  feet  six  inches  in  size,  and  is  valued 
at  $1,000.00.  Mrs.  Dunn  died  in  1893. 

In  later  years  Dr.  Dunn  has  lived  a  retired 
life,  devoting  his  attention  largely  to  a  study  of 
the  habits  and  characteristics  of  the  lower  ani- 
mals, especially  the  horse  and  dog. 

He  recently  edited  a  remarkable  work  which 
was  published  by  a  Boston  firm,  entitled  ••  The 
Sagacity  of  Dogs."  The  volume  is  beautifully 
illustrated  and  a  charming  work. 

Socially,  he  is  an  Aid-de-Camp  of  the  Su- 
preme Commander,  Gen.  Carnahan,  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  meets  with  the  order  in 
State  and  National  conventions,  Knight  Tem- 
plar, member  of  Crusader  Commandery  No.  17, 
and  an  Odd  Fellow. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  807  West 
State  street. 

Dr.  Dunn  does  not  aspire  to  political  prefer- 
ment, but  was  elected  as  an  alderman  from  the 
old  Seventh  ward  in  1894,  which  position  he 
filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  with  honor  to 
his  constituency  for  four  consecutive  terms.  He 
was  a  strong  prospective  candidate  for  the  office 
of  mayor,  and  had  the  support  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  best  men  of  the  city  for  this  position, 
but  did  not  decide  to  make  the  race.  Had  he 
done  this  he  doubtless  would  have  been  elected 
by  a  large  majority. 


bership  has  more  than  doubled  since  the  begin- 
ning of  his  pastorate.  A  fine  winter  chapel  and 
school  have  been  built  and  all  departments  of 


REV.  JAMES  J.  FLAHERTY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Bureau  county,  Illinois,  in  1853,  where  he 
resided  until  his  ordination.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Niagara  University,  at  Niagara  Falls,  N. 
Y.,  at  which  institution  he  was  ordained  to  the 
priesthood  June  7,  1879,  and  on  July  3,  was 
assigned  to  duty  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  where 
he  served  six  years  as  assistant  priest.  Rev. 
Flaherty  came  to  Rockford  in  1885,  and  was 
made  immovable  rector  of  St.  James  church  in 
1 887 ,  and  Dean  of  the  Diocese  in  1 90 1 .  Under 
his  wise  and  economical  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  this  branch  of  the  church,  its  mem- 


REV.  JAMES  J.  FLAHERTY. 

the  work  are  in  a  flourishing  condition.  Father 
Flaherty  is  beloved  by  his  people  and  has  made 
many  friends  in  the  city. 


J.  A.  WALKER. 

J.  A.  Walker  was  born  in  Ohio  and  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Iowa  in  1857.  He  spent 
his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools. 

He  accepted  a  position  with  the  Singer 
Sewing  Machine  Company  in  1874  and  re- 
mained with  the  company  twenty-five  years. 
He  was  rapidly  promoted  by  the  company,  from 
the  position  of  solicitor  to  that  of  general  mana- 
ger of  the  company's  business  in  the  northern 
territory  of  Illinois,  which  he  handled  with 
marked  success. 

Upon  the  termination  of  his  business  rela- 
tions with  the  sewing  machine  company,  he 
spent  a  year  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  as  manager 
of  the  city's  manufacturing  department.  In  1 883 
he  came  to  Rockford  where  he  has  since  resided 


ROCKFORD 


123 


during  which  time  he  has  built  fourteen  resi- 
dences, and  accomplished  much  other  work  in 
important  improvements  and  the  beautifying  of 
the  city. 

The  recent  organization  of  the  Central  Heat 
&  Power  Company  of  Rockford,  is  due  to  his 


J.  A.  WALKER. 

wise  management  and  energy  in  the  promotion 
of  important  and  substantial  enterprises.  He 
was  instrumental  in  securing  a  franchise  from 
the  city  for  the  installation  of  the  company's 
plant,  and  was  made  its  general  manager  in 
which  capacity  he  is  now  serving. 

The  innovation  of  this  system  to  furnish 
heat,  power  and  light  to  the  city  and  for  private 
use,  is  a  credit  to  the  company  and  to  the  city. 
The  work  of  installation  is  being  pushed  forward 
as  rapidly  as  possible  and  when  completed  will 
be  an  up-to-date  institution.  The  use  of  this 
system  by  private  individuals  will  result  in  a 
great  saving  of  time,  money  and  inconvenience 
and  will  reduce  to  a  minimum  the  danger  from 
fire,  thereby  securing  lower  rates  on  insurance. 

Socially  Mr.  Walker  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Royal  League.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  May  McCleery  in  1876, 


and  has  two  children,  Edward  R.,  who  is  his 
assistant  in  the  management  of  the  Central 
Heat  &.  Power  Company's  business,  and  Elsie 
B.  The  family  residence  is  at  No.  215  North 
Court  street. 


WILLIAM  GROTTY 

Was  born  in  the  City  of  New  York,  July  4,  1 84 1 , 
and  received  a  liberal  education.  He  was  a 
teacher  for  a  time  in  the  public  schools. 


WILLIAM    GROTTY. 

His  parents  were  of  Irish  extraction  and  loyal 
citizens.  When  William  was  an  infant  they  re- 
moved from  New  York  to  Harvard,  Illinois, 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boy- 
hood days.  Upon  reaching  his  majority  he  em- 
barked in  business  in  Belvidere. 

In  1872  he  came  to  Rockford,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  occurred  August  4, 
1899. 

Mr.  Grotty  was  a  "  self-made  man  "  in  the 
best  sense  of  the  term.  He  relied  upon  his 
own  efforts  to  accomplish  for  himself,  or  for 
others,  that  which  seemed  best  for  all  interests 
concerned.  He  had  the  best  interest  of  the  city 
always  at  heart,  and  never  failed  to  do  that  which 
would  promote  the  public  welfare.  In  1892  he 


124 


ROCKFORD 


engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness and  rapidly  pushed  his  way  to  the  front.  In 
a  short  time  his  ability  became  apparent  to  lead- 
ing business  men  and  he  was  made  a  confident- 
ial agent,  handling  large  sums  of  money  for  in- 
vestment for  others.  He  was  a  tireless  worker, 
the  soul  of  honor,  strong  mentally  and  physically, 
and  performed  faithful  service  for  others,  while 
he  amassed  a  considerable  competency  for  him- 
self and  family. 

He  was  the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  real 
estate,  the  value  of  which,  probably  reached  the 
$150,000.00  mark. 

He  was  a  devout  Christian,  and  contributed 
liberally  toward  the  support  of  his  church  and 
toward  the  building  and  maintenance  of  benevo- 
lent institutions.  He  aided  largely  in  the  insti- 
tution of  the  St.  Anthony  Hospital,  and  it  may 
well  stand  as  a  monument  to  his  memory. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  East  State  street 
Business  Men's  Association,  and  did  much  in 
the  promotion  of  business  interests. 

Socially,  he  was  a  member  of  Skandia  Lodge 
A.  O.  U.  W.  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  U. 

Mr.  Crotty  was  married  to  Miss  Frances  M. 
McLain,  of  Rockford,  May  19,  1874,  and  had 
eight  children,  who,  with  their  mother,  survive 
him. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  727  East 
State  street. 


Mr.  Barnes  next  accepted  a  position  with  the 
William  and  C.  H.  Knapp  Company  in  the  real 
estate  and  loan  business,  and  acquired  a  partner- 
ship in  the  business  in  March,  1902,  under  the 


WILLIAM  H.  BARNES. 

William  H.  Barnes  was  born  in  Steuben 
county,  New  York,  December  5,  1873.  He 
came  to  Rockford  with  his  parents  when  but 
three  months  old,  and  was  educated  in  the  city 
schools.  His  father  having  died  when  he  was  a 
mere  lad,  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
when  only  thirteen  years  of  age.  At  this  time 
he  began  working  for  the  Blakeman  &  Dobson 
Manufacturing  Company  that  he  might  aid  in 
the  support  of  a  widowed  mother  and  a  large 
family.  He  worked  for  this  company  for  about 
three  years.  He  then  took  up  the  carpenter's 
trade  at  which  he  worked  about  four  years, 
when  he  engaged  with  O.  W.  Wheat  and  while 
there  but  a  short  time  gained  considerable 
knowledge  of  the  photographer's  art. 


WILLIAM  H.   BARNES. 

<irm  name  of  Knapp,  Barnes  &  Company.  He 
has  the  distinction  of  being  the  youngest  man 
engaged  in  this  important  business  in  the  city. 

By  faithful  attention  to  business,  persistent 
energy  and  integrity  he  has  acquired  a  position 
in  business  circles  which  is  an  honor  to  himself 
and  a  credit  to  his  family.  The  company's 
offices  are  located  on  the  ground  floor  of  the 
Second  National  Bank  building,  at  the  corner 
of  State  and  Main  streets,  where  a  large  business 
is  being  done  in  buying  and  selling  city  and  farm 
property,  placing  insurance  and  loaning  money. 
The  firm  has  the  confidence  of  the  community 
and  enjoys  a  large  patronage  at  home  and 
abroad. 

Socially  Mr.  Barnes  is  a  member  of  the 
Illinois  Club,  Masonic  Order,  M.  W.  A.,  M.  W. 
W.,  and  Royal  League. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Lucretia  Franklin, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar  Franklin,  May 
24,  1 894,  and  has  three  children.  The  family 
resides  at  No.  605  Woodlawn  avenue. 


R  OC  K  FO  R  D 


125 


C.  F.  HENRY 

Was  born  in  Plymouth,  Plymouth  county,  Mass- 
achusetts, March  15,  1854,  and  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  Plymouth  and  Rockford,  hav- 
ing come  to  Rockford  when  ten  years  of  age 
with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Joseph  Schmauss. 

Mr.  Henry's  first  employment  was  in  a  fruit 
and  confectionery  store  at  a  salary  of  one  dollar 
per  week  with  board  and  washing,  where  he  re- 


C.    F.    HENRY. 

mained  two  years.  He  was  next  employed  by 
Isaac  Bacharach  in  the  clothing  business,  where 
he  remained  nine  and  one-half  years.  He  then 
went  into  business  on  his  own  account,  forming 
a  partnership  with  H.  W.  Allen  and  engaged  In 
the  crockery  business.  At  the  end  of  one  year 
he  sold  his  interest  to  Charles  W.  Haskell  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  Henry  Stern  in  the 
clothing  business  in  the  store  now  occupied  by 
the  Hemming  Shoe  Co.  on  the  corner  of  State 
and  Wyman  streets.  In  March,  1883,  the  busi- 
ness was  removed  to  the  corner  of  State  and 
Main  streets,  where  Mr.  Henry's  central  store  is 
now  located. 

Mr.  Henry  has  spent  thirty-eight  years  of  his 
life  on  State  street  as  clerk  or  proprietor  in  mer- 


cantile  business.  He  has  occupied  the  entire 
building,  at  the  corner  of  State  and  Main  streets, 
Nos.  211-213  during  the  last  twenty  years. 

By  fair  dealing  and  generous  treatment  of 
his  patrons  his  business  increased  so  rapidly  that 
it  soon  outgrew  its  environments,  and  he  was 
forced  to  enlarge  his  facilities  by  establishing 
branch  stores.  Accordingly,  a  fine  clothing  em- 
porium was  established  at  No.  347  East  Bridge 
street,  Beloit,  Wis.,  and  another  at  No.  417 
Fifteenth  street,  Moline,  Illinois,  where  he  is 
meeting  with  merited  success. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Star  in  the  East, 
Blue  Lodge  No.  166,  Rockford  Chapter,  Crusa- 
der Commandery  No.  17,  Freeport  Consistory, 
charter  member  Tebala  Temple  and  its  first  treas- 
urer, K.  of  P.  in  1875,  charter  member  of  first 
Elk's  Lodge,  and  a  Woodman. 

Mr.  Henry  married  Miss  Fannie  S.  Skinner, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  B.  Skinner,  in 
May  1878,  and  has  two  children,  Rupert  J.  and 
Charlotte  E. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  619  Mul- 
berry street. 


A.  C.  BREARLEY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Lake 
county,  Illinois,  August  10,  1850.  He  came  to 
Rockford  in  1855  with  his  parents  and  was 
educated  in  the  city  schools.  When  about 
seventeen  years  of  age  he  became  the  book- 
keeper for  the  Rhoades,  Utter  &  Company's 
paper  mills  and  remained  with  this  company 
twenty  years. 

In  1887  he  organized  the  Rockford  Clothing 
Company  and  became  its  secretary  and  treasurer. 
During  the  first  two  years  the  factory  of  the 
company  was  located  where  the  Silver  Plate 
works  now  stand,  and  then  the  present  quarters 
were  occupied  where  the  business  has  grown  to 
large  proportions.  The  company  enjoys  a  large 
patronage  in  custom-made  goods  for  the  local 
trade  and  does  a  large  wholesale  business 
throughout  the  northwest. 

The  principal  manufacture  of  the  company 
for  the  wholesale  trade  consists  of  pants,  over- 
alls, working-jackets  and  shirts.  They  make  a 
specialty  of  uniform  shirts  and  supply  the  city 


126 


ROCKFORD 


police  and  firemen,  generally.  The  company 
also  does  a  large  jobbing  business  in  suspenders 
and  hosiery. 


especially  in  South  Dakota,  where  he  has  done 
much  in  promoting  the  development  of  a  fine 
grade  of  stock. 

He  places  loans  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
borrower  and  safe  to  the  investor.  His  business 
is  constantly  growing  and  now  reaches  a  large 


A.  C.  BREARLEY. 


Mr.  Brearley  is  married  and  has  four  children 
and  resides  at  727  Cherry  street. 


P.   BYRON  THOMAS, 

Broker  and  real  estate  dealer,  was  born  in  Bel- 
videre,  Illinois,  of  Welsh  descent.  His  family 
traces  its  history  back  one  hundred  and  fifty  years 
and  has  been  one  of  note  in  the  beautiful  Isle  of 
Wales.  He  was  the  youngest  child  of  Peter 
Cruth  and  Sarah  Thomas  who  came  from  On- 
tario and  settled  upon  a  farm  near  Belvidere,  in 
the  early  days. 

Mr.  Thomas  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon 
the  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Belvidere.  He  came  to  Rockford  in  1886, 
where  he  has  conducted  a  large  loan  and  real 
estate  business.  His  office  is  on  the  ground 
floor  of  the  Second  National  Bank  building. 

He  has  several  thousand  acres  of  land,  situ- 
ated in  Illinois  and  South  Dakota,  and  is  also 
engaged  extensively  in  farming  and  stock  raising, 


P.  BYRON  THOMAS. 

volume  annually.  His  residence  is  on  East 
State  street,  a  cut  of  which  is  shown  in 
this  volume. 


JOSEPH  BEALE. 

Joseph  Beale  was  born  in  Twickenham, 
Middlesex,  England,  November  23,  1836,  and 
died  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  April  16,  1902. 

Mr.  Beale  came  to  Rockford  in  1858  and 
engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  with  Clark  & 
Mitchell,  which  relation  continued  several  years. 

In  1866  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Thomas  Beale,  and  went  into  business 
on  the  present  site  of  the  Manufacturers'  Bank. 
In  1892  his  son,  Joseph,  joined  him  in  the 
business. 

Mr.  Beale  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Miss  Maria  S.  Jones  of  England,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  Joseph  and  Arthur. 
Mrs.  Maria  Beale  died,  July  6,  1891.  His 


ROCKFORD 


127 


second  wife  was  Miss  Mary  Hewett  of  Rockford. 
The  family  residence  is  at  128  South  First 
street. 


In  1854  he  came  to  Rockford  and  was 
immediately  and  favorably  impressed  with  the 
beauty  of  the  city  and  the  surrounding  country, 
and  upon  his  return  to  Milwaukee  sold  out  his 
business  the  following  day,  and  the  next  day 
made  his  way  back  to  the  Forest  City.  He 
immediately  purchased  the  interest  of  J.  J. 


JOSEPH  BEALE. 


His  sons,  Joseph  Jr.,  and  Arthur,  are  now 
doing  business  at  the  old  stand. 


LEONARD  SCHMAUSS. 

Leonard  Schmauss  was  born  in  Schneidach, 
Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1826,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  country 
When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Milwaukee  where  a  large 
number  of  his  countrymen  had  preceded  him. 

An  older  brother,  Joseph,  had  already  located 
in  Rockford,  and  was  engaged  in  the  meat 
business  in  company  with  J.  J.  Andrew  and 
Thomas  Kettlewell.  Joseph  was  so  highly 
pleased  with  the  business  outlook  and  the  beauti- 
ful situation  of  Rockford,  that  he  wrote  his 
brother,  Leonard,  to  visit  him  with  a  view  of 
locating  here.  • 

Leonard  had  engaged  in  the  meat  business 
shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Milwaukee  and  was 
making  a  success  of  his  undertaking,  but  accepted 
Joseph's  urgent  invitation  to  visit  him  and  look 
over  the  city. 


LEONARD  SCHMAUSS. 

Andrew  in  the  meat  business,  and  the  firm  be- 
came that  of  Schmauss  Brothers  &  Kettlewell. 
Later  on  Schmauss  Brothers  bought  out  the 
interest  of  Kettlewell  and  the  firm  became  that 
of  Schmauss  Brothers  and  they  continued  the 
business  for  three  years,  when  the  partnership 
was  dissolved  and  the  brother  continued  the 
market  on  the  west  side  and  Leonard  took 
charge  of  the  east  side  market  at  No.  313  East 
State  street  where  he  remained  until  succeeded 
by  his  sons,  Leonard  and  Joseph,  December 
9,  1889. 

Mr.  Schmauss  carried  on  extensive  farming 
operations  in  connection  with  the  meat  business, 
having  owned  in  1861  400  acres  of  fine  land 
in  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  and  later  1 ,200  acres  in 
the  same  county. 

His  love  for  his  adopted  country  was  most 
intense  and  he  never  failed  to  speak  of  Rock- 


128 


ROCKFORD 


ford  and  its  environments  in  the  highest  terms  of 
praise,  whether  at  home  or  abroad. 

His  business  career  was  marked  by  a  degree 
of  steadfast  integrity  and  honorable  dealing  that 
redound  with  honor  to  his  memory.  Mr. 
Schmauss  died  December  9,  1889.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Margaret  Shlenck  of  Milwaukee, 
in  1850,  and  had  nine  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living. 


Mr.  Hutchins  was  married  to  Miss  Nellie 
Miller,  of  Rockford,  in  April  1897,  and  has  two 
children,  Geneva  and  Alta. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  1908  East 
State  street. 


FRED  H.  HUTCHINS 

Was  born  on  a  farm  in  Guilford,  Winnebago 
county.  Illinois,  October  8,  1869,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  school  and  the  Rockford 
High  School.  He  came  to  Rockford  in  1880. 


JAMES  M.  REID. 

James  M.  Reid  was  born  on  a  farm  in 
Harlem,  Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  May  28, 
1876,  of  Scotch  parentage.  His  father,  James 
S.  Reid,  was  born  on  the  same  farm,  his  father 
having  settled  there  in  an  early  day  and  obtained 
a  government  patent  on  the  land. 


FRED    H,    HUTCHINS. 

and  for  eleven  years  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
People's  Bank.  He  made  a  trip  to  Arizona 
where  he  remained  three  years. 

He  is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate,  loan 
and  insurance  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
F.  H.  Hutchins  &  Co.,  and  is  meeting  with  fine 
success.  The  company  is  one  of  the  more 
recent  organizations,  but  it  has  the  confidence 
of  the  community  and  its  business  is  rapidly 
growing. 


JAMES  M.  REID. 

Mr.  Reid  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  the  Rockford  high  school,  after  which  he 
took  a  course  in  the  Rockford  Business  College. 

He  entered  the  employ  of  Holland,  Ferguson 
Si  Company  in  February,  1896,  and  was  made 
the  secretary  and  manager  in  1901,  which 
position  he  still  holds. 

The  company  is  the  pioneer  in  the  abstract 
business,  having  been  established  in  1869,  and 
has  a  very  large  patronage.  The  reliability  of 
the  work  done  in  this  office  has  secured  the 
confidence  of  the  public,  which  it  justly  merits. 

Socially  Mr.  Reid  is  a  member  of  the  Elks. 


ROCKFORD 


129 


ROCKFORD  &  INTERURBAN  RAILWAY. 


The  Rockford  &  Interurban  Railway  Com- 
pany comprises  an  urban  system  in  the  city  of 
Rockford,  with  a  suburban  branch  extending  to 
Belvidere  on  the  east,  and  the  Rockford  & 
Freeport  Electric  Railway,  which  is  now  under 
construction,  will  be  consolidated  with  the  pres- 
ent system,  making  a  through  route  of  forty-three 
miles  in  length,  of  which  Rockford  is  the  central 
point.  The  system  had  its  beginning  twenty- 
three  years  ago,  when  the  first  mile  of  city  track 
was  built  in  Rockford,  on  which  two  short  horse 
cars  were  operated. 

The  Rockford  Street  Railway  Company  was 
organized  in  1880,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$20,000.  A  state  charter  was  secured  January 
1 ,  1881 ,  and  a  franchise  was  granted  by  the  city 
council  June  27,  1881.  In  September  of  the 
same  year  it  was  decided  to  build  an  extension 
of  the  line  to  the  Fair  Grounds,  and  the  capital 
stock  of  the  company  was  increased  to  $80,000. 
During  the  first  six  years  of  its  existence  the 
company  made  a  little  money,  but  when  it  com- 
menced to  extend  the  lines  to  the  more  thinly 
populated  parts  of  the  city,  the  property  ceased 
to  be  a  paying  one. 

In  1889  the  property  of  the  old  company 
was  purchased  by  the  present  owners  and  the 
power  was  changed  to  electricity.  Under  the 
new  management  the  name  of  the  company  was 
changed  to  the  Rockford  City  Railway  Company. 

In  1890  a  new  company  was  organized  under 
the  name  of  the  Rockford  Traction  Company, 
which  built  a  road  to  the  West  End  for  the  pur- 
pose of  developing  this  section  of  the  city. 
Subsequently  the  new  company  extended  its 
lines  to  South  Rockford  and  to  the  East  Side. 
This  company  met  with  great  opposition  from 
the  old  company  and  eventually  went  into  the 
hands  of  a  receiver.  In  1895  it  was  sold  and 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present  company 
in  1898, 

When  the  Rockford  City  Railway  Company 
and  the  Rockford  Traction  Company  were  con- 
solidated, the  name  was  changed  to  the  Rock- 
ford  Railway,  Light  &  Power  Company.  The 


latter  name  was  changed  to  the  Rockford  & 
Interurban  Company  a  few  months  ago,  when 
the  Rockford  Railway,  Light  &  Power  Company 
and  the  Rockford  &  Belvidere  Electric  Railway 
Company  were  consolidated. 

The  entire  route  serves  a  population  of  about 
65,000,  exclusive  of  the  farming  population  along 
the  line.  Starting  at  Belvidere,  with  a  popula- 
tion of  7,000,  it  passes  through  Cherry  Valley, 
with  a  population  of  400,  Rockford,  32,000, 
Winnebago,  400,  Pecatonica,  1,200,  Ridott,  250 
and  Freeport,  12,300. 

The  officers  and  operating  staff  of  the  Rock- 
ford  &  Interurban  Railway  Company  are  as  fol- 
lows: President,  R.  N.  Baylies;  vice-president, 
John  Farson ;  secretary,  G.  G.  Olmsted ;  treas- 
urer, W.  F.  Woodruff;  general  manager,  T.  M. 
Ellis;  auditor,  F.  W.  McAssey;  superintendent 
of  transportation,  Charles  C.  Lines ;  express 
and  passenger  agent,  J.  H.  Groneman  ;  superin- 
tendent of  track  and  lines,  C.  J.  McCarty. 

R.  N.  Baylies  born  in  St.  Helena  Parish, 
Louisiana,  Sept.  5th,  1845.  Moved  with  his 
parents  to  Griggsville,  Pike  County,  Illinois,  in 
1852,  from  there  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  in  1858. 
Raised  on  a  farm.  Attended  the  Iowa  State 
University  at  Iowa  City.  Graduated  in  Iowa 
State  University  law  school  in  1868.  Practiced 
law  in  Kansas  eight  years  and  returned  to  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  in  1876,  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession there  many  years.  Was  at  one  time  judge 
of  the  circuit  court  in  Des  Moines.  Was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  first  Electric  Railway 
in  Iowa  at  Des  Moines,  and  president  of  the 
company,  until  it  was  sold  and  became  a  part 
of  the  present  Des  Moines  system  in  1889.  He 
with  W.  E.  Andrews  purchased  a  controlling  in- 
terest in  the  Rockford  Street  Railway  Company 
in  November,  1889,  and  became  its  president, 
and  changed  it  over  to  an  electric  road  in  the 
summer  of  1890.  He  has  remained  the  presi- 
dent of  the  company  and  its  successors  until 
the  present  time.  He  was  also  for  several  years 
a  part  owner  and  president  of  the  Springfield 
City  Railway  Company,  changing  it  from  ahorse 


130 


ROC  KFO  R  D 


'NTERURBAN 

RAILWAY 


car  road  to  an  electric  road  in  1890  and  selling 
it  in  1893.  He  was  also  formerly  interested  in 
the  South  Bend,  Ind.,  Street  Railway,  and  also 
president  of  the  Brazil  Electric  Railway  Com- 
pany, Indiana,  and  sold  that  to  the  present  Terre 
Haute  Company. 

Mr.  T.  M.  Ellis,  general  manager  of  the  com- 
pany, is  a  New  Yorker,  having  been  born  in 
Whitestown  in  1 86 1 .  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
started  in  the  street  railway  business  as  a  con- 
ductor and  steadily  anvanced  until  he  was  made 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Utica  Belt  Line. 


He  was  next  employed  in  a  responsible  capacity 
by  the  Edison  General  Electric  Company  of  New 
York,  from  which  place  he  came  to  Rockford  in 
July,  1892,  as  general  manager  of  the  Rockford 
City  Railway  Company.  Under  his  manage- 
ment the  Rockford  system  has  been  almost 
entirely  rebuilt,  new  lines  have  been  extended  to 
cover  all  parts  of  the  city,  the  service  has  been 
improved  and  larger  cars  have  been  put  in  use, 
and  the  system  in  general  has  been  put  into  a 
first  class  condition.  Mr.  Ellis  enjoys  the  utmost 
confidence  not  only  of  the  directors  but  of  his 


ROCKFORD 


employes  as  well,  with  whom  he  has  established 
the  most  friendly  relations.  Although  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  no  one  is  quicker  to  appreciate 
and  reward  faithful  service.  He  is  a  hard 
worker  and  keeps  in  touch  with  the  smallest  de- 
tail of  every  department  under  his  management. 

Mr.  McAssey,  auditor  of  the  company,  was 
born  in  Ripon,  Wis.,  and  educated  at  Ripon 
College.  After  graduating  from  college,  in  1892 
he  was  made  cashier  and  bookkeeper  of  the 
Rockford  Railway,  Light  &  Power  Company. 
He  has  been  continuously  connected  with  the 
Rockford  system  since  that  time  and  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  position  of  auditor  of  the  Rockford 
Si  Interurban  Railway  Company  in  1902. 

Mr.  Lines,  superintendent  of  transportation, 
was  born  and  educated  in  Monroe,  111.,  and  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  entered  the  business  college 
in  Rockford.  He  was  first  employed  by  the 
Rockford  Railway,  Light  &  Power  Company  in 
1 895  as  motorman,  and  advanced  by  successive 
promotions  to  the  poistion  of  superintendent  of 
transportation,  in  which  capacity  he  has  served 
the  company  since  1898. 

Mr.  Groneman,  general  passenger  and  ex- 
press agent,  is  a  native  of  Rockford  where  he 
was,  for  three  and  a  half  years,  water  works 
inspector  for  the  city.  He  then  went  into  news- 
paper work  and  for  eight  years  was  connected 
with  the  Register-Gazette  of  Rockford,  as  cir- 
culation manager.  In  this  capacity  he  became 
widely  acquainted  in  Rockford  and  the  surround- 
ing territory.  He  has  also  acted  at  different 
times  as  manager  for  various  shows  and  enter- 
tainments. In  June,  1902,  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position  with  the  railway  company 
and  much  of  the  success  of  the  express 
department  is  due  to  his  active  and  able 
management. 

C.  J.  McCarty  was  born  in  Logansport,  Ind., 
in  1875.  Was  educated  at  the  University  of 
Illinois.  Located  at  Champaign,  111.  Became 
superintendent  of  electric  light  plant  at  Rock 
Falls  in  1898.  Started  with  electrical  depart- 
ment of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  in  1899,  and  in 
1900  accepted  a  position  with  the  Elgin,  Aurora 
&  Southern  Traction  Company,  taking  charge 
of  track  and  overhead  work.  In  1902  going 
with  the  Aurora,  Elgin  &  Chicago,  from  where 


he  accepted  in  March,  1903,  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  track  and  overhead  work  of  the 
Rockford  &  Interurban  Railway  Company. 


R.  J.  BRYHN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Nor- 
way, March  19,  1864,  and  came  to  New  York 
with  his  parents  when  thirteen  years  of  age. 


R.  j.  BRYHN. 

where  he  remained  six  years,  employed  as  a 
shipping  clerk.  He  removed  to  Chicago  in  1883 
and  was  employed  as  a  shipping  clerk  for  C. 
Jevne  &  Co.,  where  he  remained  two  years. 

He  then  engaged  with  the  Standard  Oil  Co. 
in  a  like  position  in  Chicago,  and  at  the  end  of 
five  years  was  transferred  to  Rockford  and  re- 
mained with  the  company  until  1896,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  oil  business  on  his  own  account, 
but  at  the  end  of  one  year  he  sold  his  interests 
to  the  Standard  Oil  Co.  and  engaged  with  the 
company  as  its  local  manager,  in  which  capacity 
he  has  met  with  eminent  success. 

He  has  supervision  over  a  large  territory, 
covering  some  sixty  towns  and  agencies  which 
are  supplied  with  oil  from  the  Rockford  branch. 

Socially,  Mr.  Bryhn  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a 
Modern  Woodman.  He  is  married,  and  with 
his  family  resides  at  316  South  First  street. 


ROCKFORD 


CAPT.  LEWIS  F.   LAKE, 

Circuit  Clerk  and  Recorder,  is  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, and  was  born  in  Owen  township,  Winne- 
bago  county,  in  1846,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  and 
did  service  during  the  Civil  War.  He  was  cap- 
tured at  Atlanta  in  July  1864,  and  confined  in 


CAPT.    LEWIS    F.    LAKE. 

the  Andersonville  prison  until  he  was  released 
by  a  special  exchange  of  prisoners  the  following 
September. 

During  a  portion  of  his  enlistment  he  did  ser- 
vice in  Taylor's  Battery,  First  Illinois  Light  Ar- 
tillery, and  was  engaged  in  several  of  the  most 
noted  battles  of  the  war. 

Capt.  Lake's  pride  in  military  life  is  further 
evidenced  by  .fifteen  years  of  service  in  the  Illi- 
nois National  Guard,  eight  years  of  which  as  a 
member  of  the  famous  Rockford  Rifles,  and 
seven  as  regimental  adjutant  with  rank  of  cap- 
tain. 

Upon  his  return,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
worked  at  the  carpenters  trade,  but  soon  went 
into  the  shops  of  the  Emerson  Mfg.  Co.,  where 
he  worked  thirteen  years.  In  1881  he  was  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  collector  and  was 
elected  by  a  good  majority.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office  as  collector  he  was  made 


deputy  county  clerk  in  which  capacity  he  served 
six  years.  He  was  then  elected  to  the  office  of 
circuit  clerk,  and  is  now  serving  his  fourth  term 
in  this  office. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
Masons,  Royal  League,  A.  0.  U.  W.,  Elks,  K. 
of  P.  and  various  other  beneficiary  orders. 

Capt.  Lake  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  A. 
Allen,  June  20,  1866.  and  has  had  three  chil- 
dred,  one  of  which,  a  daughter,  is  now  living. 
The  family  resides  at  229  North  Church  street. 


MARCUS  A.  NORTON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Bridgewater,  Michigan,  January  16, 
1841.  His  parents  removed  to  Ann  Arbor, 


MARCUS    A.    NORTON. 

Michigan,  in  1844  so  as  to  be  able  to  give  their 
children  the  excellent  educational  advantages 
offered  in  that  city. 

In  1852  the  family  came  to  Rockford  and 
made  a  home  on  the  South  side,  in  the,  then, 
new  Fifth  ward,  since  which  time  Mr.  Norton 
has  resided  nearly  continuously  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Norton  was  among  the  first  to  respond 
to  the  call  for  volunteers  in  defense  of  the  Union, 
and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  G,  44th 


ROCKFORD 


133 


Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  for  three  years.  At 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  September  20, 1863, 
he  was  severely  wounded  and  was  left  on  the 
field  when  his  regiment  retreated.  He  was 
found  by  the  rebels  and  taken  prisoner,  but  was 
paroled  with  others  also  severely  wounded  and 
was  taken  to  Chattanooga  October  1st,  1863. 

After  an  exchange  of  prisoners  had  been  ac- 
complished he  returned  to  his  regiment  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  Atlanta  campaign  under  General 
Sherman,  and  was  present  when  that  city  capit- 
ulated. He  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  September  17,  1864. 

Mr.  Norton  participated  in  many  of  the  most 
noted  battles  of  the  war,  among  which  were 
Perryville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Lost 
Mountain,  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Jonesborough  and  many  skirmishes  and 
engagements  around  Atlanta.  He  has  never 
applied  for  nor  received  a  pension. 

During  the  last  twenty  years  Mr.  Norton  has 
been  honored  by  being  made  the  recipient  of 
various  offices  of  public  trust.  In  1 883  he  was 
elected  supervisor  from  the  Fifth  city  ward  and 
held  the  office  during  three  terms,  but  being  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  county  clerk  in  1 886 
he  declined  a  renomination  for  supervisor. 

At  the  Winnebago  county  Republican  con- 
vention, in  June  1886,  he  was  nominated  by  ac- 
clamation as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county 
clerk  and  was  elected  the  following  November. 
He  is  now  serving  his  fifth  term  in  this  office, 
having  been  nominated  by  acclamation  at  each 
recurring  convention. 

Mr.  Norton  was  married  to  Miss  Henrietta 
Gardner,  in  May  1866,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas 
Kerr.  One  child  was  born  to  them  who  died  in 
infancy. 

He  now  resides  at  610  North  street. 


JAMES  H.  CARSON 

Is  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage,  and  was  born  near 
Belfast,  Ireland,  March  10,  1846.  His  father, 
Robert  Carson,  was  a  native  of  Belfast,  Ireland, 
and  his  mother,  Jane  (McVey)  Carson,  was  a 
native  of  Greenock,  Scotland,  where  they  were 
married,  and  shortly  after  removed  to  Belfast 
where  James  was  born,  but  returned  to  Green- 
ock when  he  was  a  year  old,  where  they  resided 


about  six  years.  In  1853  they  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

James  H.  Carson  was  the  eldest  of  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools. 

In  1865  he  came  to  Illinois  and  was  engaged 
in  farming.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Ella  M.  Thompson,  daughter  of 
Hiram  Thompson,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Winnebago  county.  In  1873  he  removed  to 
Rockford  where  he  has  since  resided.  Three 
children  blessed  their  union,  Robert  D.,  the  eld- 
est son,  died  five  years  ago  aged  twenty-six, 
Frank  A.,  aged  twenty-seven,  deputy  county 
treasurer,  and  Mrs.  Mabel  F.  (Carson)  Weth- 
erell  resides  in  Beloit,  Wis. 


JAMES    H.    CARSON. 

Mr.  Carson  has  been  identified  with  the 
working  men  of  Rockford  for  many  years,  hav- 
ing been  employed  in  the  Emerson,  Talcott  & 
Co.'s  works,  the  N.  C.  Thompson  manufactur- 
ing plant,  the  Briggs  &  Enoch  works,  and  the 
Trahern  Pump  Co.'s  works. 

In  1891  he  was  elected  a  supervisor  from 
Rockford,  in  which  capacity  he  served  ten  years, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  fees  and 


134 


ROCKFORD 


salaries  and  served  on  several  other  important 
committees.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Board 
of  Health  of  the  City  of  Rockford  as  water  and 
plumbing 'inspector,  in  which  capacity  he  did 
efficient  service.  The  Board  of  Supervisors  ap- 
pointed him  to  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor 
in  which  position  he  served  three  years. 

At  the  election  in  November,  1902,  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  receiv- 
ing the  unanimous  vote  of  every  town  in  the 
county  and  precinct  in  the  city,  which  office  he 
now  holds. 

Politically,  Mr.  Carson  has  ever  been  a 
staunch  republican,  but  in  local  matters  he  is 
conservative,  and  will  support  the  candidate  who, 
in  his  best  judgment,  is  best  qualified  to  fill  the 
office  regardless  of  party  lines. 

Socially.  Mr.  Carson  is  a  Mason,  having 
served  as  secretary  of  E.  F.  W.  Ellis  Lodge  No. 
633,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  for  a  number  of  years; 
K.  of  P.,  K.  of  G..  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  and  I.  O. 
O.  F. 

Mrs.  Carson  is  also  a  member  of  the  Ladies' 
Auxiliaries  to  these  societies.  She  is  a  Post 
Matron  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  and 
Past  Grand  of  the  Rebecca  Degree  of  the  I.  0. 
O.  F. 

Mr.  Carson  is  fifty-six  years  old  and  bids  fair 
to  live  yet  many  years  as  his  ancestors  were 
noted  for  longevity  of  years.  His  father  and 
mother  are  still  living,  aged  respectively  eighty- 
six  and  eighty-three  years.  They  reside  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Monroe  county,  New  York. 

Mr.  Carson  has  a  pleasant  home  in  South 
Rockford,  No.  1 129  Ferguson  street. 


ALEX  COLLIER. 

Sheriff  of  Winnebago  county,  was  born  in  Chen- 
ango  county,  New  York,  March  8,  1848,  where 
he  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  re- 
sided until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  His  occu- 
pation, while  young,  was  that  of  farming.  He 
settled  in  Roscoe,  Illinois,  in  1869  and  engaged 
in  the  milling  business.  He  adopted  the  miller's 
trade  as  a  profession  and  became  an  expert  in 
the  business.  After  doing  a  successful  seven 
year's  business  in  Roscoe,  he  became  the  head 
miller  at  the  Rockton  and  Beloit  mills.  On 
account  of  his  health,  he  left  the  mills  and  re- 


turned to  the  farm  where  he  remained  six  years. 
Mr.  Collier  represented  the  town  of  Harlem  in 
the  county  board  of  supervisors  three  years.  In 
1881,  he  came  to  Rockford  and  engaged  with 
the  City  Railway  company  as  general  mana- 


ALEX   COLLIER. 

ger  of  its  stock  and  employes,  but  was  shortly 
after  appointed  superintendent  of  the  county 
farm  by  the  board  of  supervisors,  which  position 
he  filled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  board 
and  the  people,  for  eleven  years.  In  1902,  he 
was  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  Republican 
party  as  a  candidate  for  sheriff  of  Winnebago 
county,  and  was  elected  to  that  office  at  the 
November  election.  Socially,  Mr.  Collier  is  an 
Elk  and  a  Mason.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  J. 
McMullen,  of  Fairdale,  DeKalb  county,  Illinois, 
in  1876,  and  has  two  children,  a  daughter,  Ida 
Marie,  and  a  son,  Charles  T. 


0.  J.  KERN. 

County  Superintendent  of  Schools  O.  J. 
Kern,  was  born  in  Moultrie  County,  Illinois,  Jan. 
1,  1861.  He  attended  the  district  school  dur- 
ing a  few  months  in  the  winter,  and  after  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old  he  earned  enough  money 
to  enable  him  to  take  a  four  years  classical 


ROCKFORD 


135 


course  at  De  Pauw  (Old  Asbury)  University, 
Greencastle,  Indiana.  Over  study  so  affected 
his  eyesight  that  he  was  compelled  to  give  up 
further  study  and  return  to  the  farm.  After  re- 
maining there  a  year  he  decided  to  attempt 
teaching.  Entirely  without  friends,  influence  or 
experience,  he  secured  a  position  as  principal 
of  a  four  room  school.  He  came  to  Winne- 
bago  county  in  August  1888,  a  stranger,  with 
funds  enough  for  two  weeks  board,  and  taught 
his  first  day  of  school  as  principal  of  the  Cherry 
Valley  school.  After  remaining  there  three 
years  at  an  increase  of  salary,  in  September, 
1891,  he  became  one  of  the  instructors  of  the 
Rockford  High  School.  This  position  he  held 
for  seven  years.  In  April,  1898,  he  was  unani- 
mously nominated  by  the  Republican  County 
Convention  for  the  position  of  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  and  was  elected  the  follow- 
ing November.  He  was  renominated  in  1902, 


COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT  O.  J.   KERN. 

and  was  elected  the  same  year.  Mr.  Kern  is 
a  fine  type  of  the  up-to-date  educator  who 
makes  the  most  of  the  means  at  his  command. 
He  has  enlisted  the  co-operation  of  teachers, 
pupils  and  board  of  supervisors  so  that  fifty-eight 
traveling  libraries,  for  district  schools,  have  been 


purchased,  representing  about  2800  volumes,  at 
anoutlayof  $1300.  He  has  organized  a  Farmer 
Boy's  Experiment  Club  of  325  members  and 
conducted  educational  excursions  to  the  Experi- 
ment Station  and  Agricultural  College.  New 
schools  are  being  built  and  grounds  and  build- 
ings made  attractive.  During  his  administra- 
tion three  district  schools  have  been  consolidated 
and  a  new  central  building  will  be  erected  in 
1903,  the  first  school  of  this  kind  in  Illinois. 
This  school  will  be  located  in  Seward  township. 
That  his  talent  is  appreciated  is  shown  by  the 
steady  demand  for  his  presence  at  farmers'  and 
teachers'  institutes,  and  for  articles  from  his  pen. 
He  is  a  regular  contributor  to  the  local  press  and 
to  the  School  News,  published  at  Taylorville,  III. 
He  is  also  an  occasional  contributor  to  other 
periodicals.  His  1902  report  of  the  Winnebago 
County  schools  —entitled  "  The  Country  School 
and  the  Country  Child,"  was  called  for  from  all 
over  the  United  States,  and  requests  for  it  came 
from  South  America  and  Canada.  His  report 
of  a  visit  to  the  Centralized  Schools  of  Ohio 
received  as  wide  a  notice  and  was  reprinted  in 
the  report  of  the  National  Commissioner  of 
Education  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Supt.  Kern 
is  not  content  to  travel  in  the  ordinary  educa- 
tional rut,  and  with  the  hearty  co-operation  of 
teachers,  pupils  and  patrons,  he  will  make  the 
district  schools  of  Winnebago  county  second  to 
none  in  the  state.  Mr.  Kern  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Jessie  C.  Allen  at  Greencastle,  Indiana, 
August  6,  1889.  They  have  four  children — 
Esther,  Evans,  Louise  and  Russell. 


FRANK  M.  MARSH. 

Frank  M.  Marsh  was  born  at  New  Milford, 
Illinois,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  East  Rockford,  under  the  principalship  of 
Professor  Freeman.  After  graduation  he  took 
a  course  in  a  business  college  where  he  became 
thoroughly  equipped  for  a  business  career. 

In  1 874  he  engaged  in  the  stock  and  grain 
business,  which  was  successfully  prosecuted  for 
about  fifteen  years.  In  1888  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Mr.  Maxwell,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Marsh  &  Maxwell,  and  engaged  in  the 
undertaking  business,  as  successors  to  William 
Logle.  At  the  end  of  three  years  the  firm  dis- 


136 


ROCKFORD 


solved  partnership  and  Mr  Marsh  continued  the 
business  alone  until  1902,  when  he  took  his  son, 
Louis,  as  a  partner.  This  firm  now  conducts 
one  of  the  leading  undertaking  establishments 
in  the  city. 

Mr.  Marsh  has  served  the  town  of  New 
Milford  acceptably  as  its  supervisor  and  In 
1896  was  elected  coroner  of  the  county.  In 


ford  Business  College,  was  graduated  in  1880, 
after  which  he  served  as  a  teacher  in  the  college 
two  years.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 


FRANK  M.  MARSH. 

1900  he  was  re-elected  to  this  office  in  which 
capacity  he  is  giving  acceptable  service  to  the 
people. 

Mr.  Marsh's  father  had  the  honor  of  sug- 
gesting the  name  for  his  native  town,  New 
Milford.  There  was  a  new  mill  erected  on  the 
river,  at  a  point  at  which  there  was  a  convenient 
ford,  and  this  fact  suggested  the  name,  New 
mill-ford,  which  was  written  New  Milford. 

Mr.  Marsh  is  a  member  of  several  fraternal 
societies,  is  married  and  has  a  family  of  three 
children.  He  resides  at  215  South  First  street. 


I.  SHOUDY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at 
Pawpaw,  Lee  county,  Illinois,  in  1859,  where  he 
spent  his  boyhood  days.  He  came  to  Rockford 
in  1879,  and  after  taking  a  course  in  the  Rock- 


i.  SHOUDY. 

farming,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Belle  E. 
Miller,  daughter  of  C.  F.  Miller,  Esq.,  who 
served  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years 
in  this  city.  He  returned  to  Rockford  in  1889, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Shoudy  has  the  credit  for  the  invention 
of  the  first  tank-heater  and  took  out  the  first 
patent  ever  issued  from  the  patent  office  on  this 
useful  article.  He  manufactured  tanks  in  this 
city  two  years,  and  then  organized  a  stock  com- 
pany for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  them  on 
a  much  larger  scale.  He  was  so  unfortunate 
as  to  sell  a  majority  of  the  stock  and  thus  lost 
control  of  the  business,  and  this  resulted  in  its 
failure.  He  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
in  1893  and  in  1896  the  present  co-partnership, 
Shoudy  Si  Melville,  was  formed.  The  company 
does,  exclusively,  a  land  business. 

Mr.  Shoudy  is  the  inventor  of  the  first 
dumping  car  ever  used,  which  he  patented  and 
sold  to  eastern  parties.  The  same  device  is 
now  being  used  on  dumping  carts.  He  also 


ROCKFORD 


invented  a  railroad  jack  the  patent  for  which 
was  sold  to  the  Southern  Railway  Company  for 
$1,000.00. 

In  1893  he  had  a  position  in  the  land  de- 
partment of  the  Illinois  Central  Railway  Com- 
pany. After  serving  in  this  capacity  for  some 
time,  he  took  a  like  position  with  the  Yazoo 
Valley  Company,  in  both  of  which  positions  he 
was  very  successful. 

In  1899  he  handled  a  large  amount  of  land 
in  Clark  county,  Wisconsin.  During  the  last 
year  a  large  area  of  Texas  land  has  been  added 
to  the  list.  The  company  now  owns  and  con- 
trols more  than  400,000  acres  of  land,  located 
In  many  states.  It  employs  160  agents  who 
reside  in  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Indiana.  These 
agents  come  regularly  to  this  city,  and  bring 
many  strangers  with  them,  who  help  swell  the 
great  volume  of  business  here.  Doubtless  this 
company  employs  more  people  and  handles  a 
greater  amount  of  land  than  all  other  like  con- 
cerns in  the  city,  put  together.  They  move 
along  quietly  but  an  immense  volume  of  business 
is  done  every  year. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Shoudy  is  herewith  pre- 
sented, also  an  illustration  of  his  home  at  2515 
South  Main  street.  The  office  of  Shoudy  & 
Melville  is  at  315-317  West  State  street. 


Mr.  Melville  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Eddy,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  W. 


F.   L.   MELVILLE 

Was  born  in  Lake  county,  Illinois,  1861,  and 
spent  thirty  years  of  his  life  upon  the  farm  in 
that  county.  He  came  to  Rockford  in  1890 
and  took  a  course  in  the  Rockford  Business  Col- 
lege, and.  after  graduation,  taught  two  years  in 
that  institution. 

Mr.  Melville  then  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business,  forming  a  copartnership  with  Mr.  I. 
Shoudy  in  1896,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
an  indefatigable  worker  in  building  up  a  business 
that  is  an  honor  to  the  firm  and  a  credit  to  the 
city.  This  firm  owns  and  controls  more  than 
400,000  acres  of  land  located  in  Kansas,  Mis- 
sissippi, Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  and  has  160  men 
in  its  employ.  The  volume  of  business  trans- 
acted by  it  will  probably  exceed  the  aggregate  of 
all  other  real  estate  concerns  in  this  section  of 
the  country. 


F.    L.    MELVILLE. 


Eddy  of  Lake  county,  in   1892.  and  resides  at 
830  Elm  street. 


JESSE  DIMOND 

Was  born  in  Boone  county,  Illinois,  May  26, 
1870,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1894  when  he 
went  into  the  business  of  stock  buying,  and  at 
the  same  time  conducted  a  meat  market  at  Pop- 
lar Grove,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  three 
years. 

In  1897  he  removed  to  Brookings,  South 
Dakota,  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business. 

He  came  to  Rockford  in  1899,  and  has  since 
been  in  the  land  business.  In  1901  he  formed 
a  copartnership  with  Mr.  W.  H.  Marshall,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Dimond  &  Marshall.  They 
make  a  specialty  of  buying  and  selling  farm 
lands.  Their  immigration  business  is  larger 
than  that  of  any  other  dealers  in  the  country. 
They  have  sold,  and  also  now  have  on  hand  im- 
mense tracts  of  land  in  the  Dakotas  and  Kan- 
sas upon  which  they  locate  actual  settlers.  Their 
business  makes  it  necessary  to  employ  a  large 


138 


ROCKFORD 


number  of  men  located  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  These  men  to  the  number  of  1 00  or 
more  frequently  come  to  Rockford  and  thus  con- 
tribute to  its  resources  and  popularity. 

Mr.  Dimond  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  Modern 
Woodman. 


tation  to  the  city  for  which  the  community  is 
indebted  to  this  firm. 


JESSE    DIMOND 


Having  lost  his  wife  he  resides  with  his  three 
children  at  813  Mulberry  street. 


W.  H.   MARSHALL 

Is  a  prominent  land  dealer  in  connection  with 
Jesse  Dimond,  under  the  firm  of  Dimond  &. 
Marshall. 

Mr.  Marshall  was  born  in  Winnebago,  Win- 
nebago  county,  Illinois,  July  5,  1870,  and  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Winnebago  High  School. 

His  first  business  venture  was  in  the  meat 
business,  after  which  he  engaged  in  the  real  es- 
tate business  in  which  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. The  company  handles  a  large  amount 
of  western  land  annually,  and  employs  a  large 
force  of  men  who  visit  Rockford  frequently  in 
the  course  of  their  business,  thus  giving  a  large 
amount  of  free  advertising  and  a  splendid  repu- 


W.    H.    MARSHALL. 

Socially,  Mr.  Marshall  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  W.  A.,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  Masonic  order. 

He  is  married  and  has  two  children. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  1  101  West 
State  street. 


H.  W.  WILLIAMS 

Was  born  in  Worcester,  England,  February  27, 
1830,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  country.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1845,  and  spent  some  time  at  Ypsilanta, 
Michigan,  where  an  uncle  resided.  He  then 
went  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  to  Lake  Supe- 
rior points,  where  he  remained  until  coming  to 
Rockford  in  1866.  when  he  secured  a  position 
as  bookkeeper  in  the  office  of  N.  C.  Thompson, 
where  he  remained  twenty-one  years. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Williams  was  a  celebrated 
English  artist,  whose  works  were  widely  known. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  Lane  Wright, 
formerly  of  Newport  Pagnell,  England,  in  Rock- 
ford,  June  5,  1870. 

He  visited  his  English  home  in  1887,  where 
he  remained  one  year  to  recuperate  his  health. 


R  OC  K  FO  R  D 


He  died  in  1893  at  the  family  residence  No.  313 
South  Church  street.  His  widow,  four  sons, 
Henry  Wilson,  William  Howard,  Joseph  Thomas 
and  Andrew  Price,  and  one  daughter,  Lavinia 
Georgine,  reside  in  Rockford. 


w.  WILLIAMS. 


Mr.  Williams  was  an  honored  Mason  and  a 
highly  respected  citizen. 


LIBERTY  WALKUP 

Was  born  in  Pine  Creek  township,  Ogle  county, 
Illinois,  in  1844,  and  was  educated  in  rhe  public 
schools. 

Mr.  Walkup's  given  name.  Liberty,  is  an  old 
family  name,  and  was  brought  to  this  country  by 
the  Puritan  fathers.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Walkup 
in  bestowing  this  name  upon  their  son  conveyed 
an  heirloom  to  him  of  high  distinction,  of  which 
he  has  reason  to  be  proud. 

Mr  Walkup  enlisted  in  Company  K,  92nd 
Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  in  1862,  but  on 
account  of  disability  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge in  1863,  when  he  returned  to  his  home 
in  Pine  Creek,  where  he  remained  four  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  resided  six 
years,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois.  He  came 
to  Rockford  in  1881,  where  he  has  since  resided. 


Mr.  Walkup  is  the  patentee  of  the  Air  Brush. 
His  work  has  met  with  much  opposition  and 
criticism  by  artists  on  account  of  its  being,  so 
called,  machine  work,  but  has  been  successful 
in  overcoming  this  opposition,  and  to-day  this 
work  is  highly  appreciated.  It  is  now  in  a  very 
high  state  of  perfection,  and  beautiful  half-tones 
are  now  produced  that  excel  the  best  hand-work. 
Delicate  tints  and  shadings  are  placed  upon  the 
canvas,  with  the  atomizer,  that  cannot  be  pro- 
duced by  hand.  Air  Brush  work  is  sought  after 


LIBERTY    WALKUP. 

by  people  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  there 
is  no  product  of  Rockford's  many  industries  that 
is  more  widely  known  or  more  highly  apprecia- 
ted. 

Mr.  Walkup  has  an  office  and  studio  in  his 
house,  where  he  enjoys  his  work,  and  has  a  large 
patronage. 

An  uncle,  Gen.  James  Ruggles,  was  one  of 
three  men  who  drew  up  the  first  republican  plat- 
form and  made  possible  the  election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  president  of  the  United  States.  Gen. 
Ruggles  has  visited  Rockford  several  times. 

Mr.  Walkup  is  married  and  resides  at  209 
North  Main  street. 


140 


ROCKFORD 


HON.   FRANK  S.   REGAN 

Was  bom  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  October  3,  1862. 
His  father  settled  in  Rockford  in  1840.  Mr. 
Regan  was  educated  in  the  city  schools. 


HON.    FRANK    S.    REGAN. 

He  first  took  up  the  work  of  making  a  set  of 
abstract  books  of  Winnebago  county  in  company 
with  Girdon  O.  Williams,  which  required  seven 
years  to  complete.  He  was  appointed  to  the 
position  of  stenographer,  in  the  Illinois  legisla- 
ture, in  1887. 

After  completing  the  abstract  work  he  re- 
sumed the  reading  of  law  in  the  office  of  A.  D. 
Early,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1895.  He 
then  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  law, 
and  has  met  with  marked  success. 

Mr.  Regan  has  been  an  active  temperance 
worker  for  many  years.  He  served  as  president 
of  the  No- License  organization  in  Rockford.  and 
was  elected  an  alderman  from  the  Fourth  ward 
in  1895,  and  served  two  years. 

He  identified  himself  with  the  Prohibition 
party  soon  after  the  campaign  of  1896,  and  was 
elected  as  a  representative  in  the  legislature  on 
the  Prohibition  ticket.  His  work  in  the  legisla- 
ture is  highly  commended.  He  was  the  only 
representative,  that  year,  in  the  United  States, 


elected  on  the  Prohibition  ticket.  Mr.  Regan 
was  a  candidate  for  representative  in  Congress, 
on  the  Prohibition  ticket,  in  the  campaign  of 
1902. 

Mr.  Regan  has  been  in  demand  on  the  lec- 
ture platform  for  some  time,  and  has  met  with 
gratifying  success. 

He  is  the  secretary  of  the  Rockford  Chautau- 
que  Association,  and  was  one  of  the  promoters 
of  this  enterprise. 

Mr.  Regan  was  married  to  Miss  Helen  M. 
Crumb,  of  Rockford,  June  11,  1896,  and  has 
two  children,  Frances  C.  and  Leland.  Resi- 
dence at  1201  North  Church  street. 


CLINTON   HELM,  M.  D., 

Was  born  in  Schoharie  county,  New  York,  in 
1829.  His  father,  Woodhull  Helm,  was  born 
in  Orange  county,  New  York,  in  1777,  and  was 


CLINTON    HELM,    M.    D. 

of  English  and  Irish  ancestry.  The  English 
branch  has  a  coat  of  arms  as  a  reward  for  dis- 
tinguished service  to  the  state.  He  was  con- 
nected with  the  state  militia  for  many  years  and 
earned  the  title  of  captain. 


ROCKFORD 


141 


He  was  three  times  married,  and  the  third 
wife  was  Miss  Lucy  Buggies,  the  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  the  youngest 
member  of  the  family. 

When  Clinton  was  six  years  of  age  his  father 
removed  to  Jersey  county,  Illinois,  and  two  years 
later  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where  he  died  in 
Byron  in  1845,  being  sixty-eight  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Clinton  Helm  was  educated  in  the  Rock- 
ford  (111.)  Academy,  and  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Lucius  Clark  of  this  city. 
He  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Iowa,  at  Keokuk,  in  1852,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Oregon,  Ogle  county,  Illinois.  He  afterward  re- 
moved to  Byron  in  the  same  county,  and  later 
to  Beloit,  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  eight 
years,  acquiring  a  very  large  and  successful 
practice. 

In  September,  1862,  Governor  Yates  ap- 
pointed him  surgeon  of  the  92nd  Illinois  Infan- 
try, and  during  the  succeeding  year  he  was  with 
that  command  in  all  its  marches  and  battles. 

On  September  20,  1863,  he  was  captured 
by  the  Confederates  at  Chickamauga,  Tennes- 
see, and  spent  two  months  in  Libby  prison.  Dur- 
ing the  last  year  of  his  service  he  was  with  Gen- 
eral Kilpatrick,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
June  21,  1865. 

Dr.  Helm  located  in  Rockford  in  1878, 
where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a  substantial  and 
popular  practice. 

He  married  Miss  Hannah  S.  Payneer,  who 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  of  French  par- 
entage. Mrs.  Helm  was  a  cultured  woman, 
and  was  noted  for  her  benevolent  spirit  and  help- 
fulness in  the  community.  Both  the  doctor  and 
Mrs.  Helm  were  members  of  the  Second  Congre- 
gational church,  and  were  foremost  in  charit- 
able work.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  still  living ;  Minnie  E., 
wife  of  E.  J.  White  of  Chicago;  Clinton,  a  prac- 
ticing dentist  of  Rockford,  Eva,  Harry  S.,  and 
Willis. 

Dr.  Helm  is  a  member  of  the  Winnebago 
County  Medical  Society,  and  is  called  in  con- 
sultation in  critical  cases,  over  a  wide  area  of 
country. 

Mrs.  Helm  died  in  July,  1899.  The  resi- 
dence is  at  628  Mulberry  street. 


DR.  E.   P.  CATLIN 

Was  born  in  Chester,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  came 
to  Rockford  with  his  parents  in  1838.  His 
father,  Dr.  A.  M.  Catlin,  upon  arrival  in  Rock- 
ford,  combined  farming  with  the  practice  of  med- 
icine, but  his  services,  as  a  physician,  were  so 
much  in  demand  that  he  was  finally  forced  to 
give  up  the  farm  and  devote  his  attention  to  the 
practice  of  medicine.  His  practice  extended 
over  a  wide  area  of  country  and  his  rides  were 
long  and  tedious.  He  died  in  1892  after  a  pro- 
fessional service  of  seventy  years. 

Dr  E.  P.  Catlin  was  educated  in  the  Rock- 
ford  district  and  high  schools,  and  at  Kimball 
Union  Academy,  New  Hampshire.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Rush  Medical  College  in  1 864.  Took 
a  post-graduate  course  in  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgery  in  New  York  city,  and  Bellevue 
Hospital  Medical  College  in  1865.  He  was  first 
assistant  surgeon  in  the  152nd  Illinois  regiment. 

Dr.  Catlin  practiced  medicine  in  Rockford 
one  year,  and  then  located  in  Manteno,  Illinois, 
where  he  practiced  his  profession  thirteen  years, 
when  he  returned  to  Rockford,  where  he  has 
since  enjoyed  a  prominent  position  among  his 
fellow  practitioners  and  the  community. 

Dr.  Catlin  was  married  in  1866  and  has 
three  sons,  one  of  whom,  Dr.  S.  R.  Catlin,  is 
now  practicing  medicine  in  Rockford,  thus  rep- 
resenting the  third  generation,  in  the  same  fam- 
ily, in  the  medical  profession.  The  Catlin  fam- 
ily of  physicians  represents  sixty-six  years  of 
service  in  Rockford. 

Dr.  Catlin  is  a  member  of  Post  No.  1 , 
G.  A.  R. 


HENRY  RICHINGS,   M.  D., 

Is  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Charles  H.  Richings, 
who  was  born  in  England,  February  26,  1815, 
and  received  his  preliminary  medical  education 
in  Belgium,  as  a  medical  cadet  serving  with  the 
French  Army  of  Occupation. 

He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1836  and 
entered  a  large  tract  of  land  near  Pecatonica, 
Illinois.  He  soon  after  returned  to  England, 
where  he  married  Miss  Mary  Stephenson,  a  not 
very  distant  relative  of  the  noted  English  engi- 
neer of  this  name.  Upon  his  return  to  this  coun- 
try he  settled  upon  his  farm,  where  he  not  only 


142 


ROCKFORD 


cultivated  the  land  but  also  took  up  the  work  of 
his  profession.  He  was  the  second  physician  to 
locate  in  this  section  of  country,  he  being  pre- 
ceded by  Dr.  L.  Moulthrop,  who  came  to  Rock- 
ford  in  1835.  His  practice  grew  until  he  was 
obliged  to  give  up  farming  operations  and  re- 
moved to  Rockford,  where  he  died  at  his  home, 
on  West  State  street,  August  13,  1884,  after  a 
successful  practice  of  forty-eight  years. 

Dr.  Henry  Richings  was  born  on  the  farm, 
near  Pecatonica,  in  1842,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Rockford  and  also  attended 


HENRY    RICHINGS,    M.    D. 

school  at  Beloit,  Wis.  He  studied  medicine  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and  also  at  the  University  of 
New  York,  where  he  took  his  degree  in  1864. 
Soon  after  he  received  the  appointment  of  Act- 
ing Assistant  Surgeon  U.  S.  A.,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  United  States  General  Hospital,  Arm- 
ory Square,  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  as  execu- 
tive officer  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
under  Dr.  D.  W.  Bliss,  surgeon  in  charge,  who 
had  already  become  noted  as  an  army  surgeon. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Dr.  Bliss,  and  practiced  his  profes- 
sion in  Washington,  D.  C.,  for  eight  years.  He 
located  in  Rockford  in  1878,  where  he  has  since 
enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice. 


Dr.  Richings  has  served  as  consulting  sur- 
geon on  the  staff  of  the  Rockford  City  Hospital 
since  its  establishment  in  1883. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Winnebago  County 
Medical  Society,  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  the 
State  Association  of  Military  Surgeons  of  Illinois, 
the  National  Association  of  Military  Surgeons 
of  the  United  States,  the  State  Board  of  Health, 
and  is  the  'local  surgeon  for  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul  and  the  Chicago  &  Northwest- 
ern Railway  companies,  and  is  also  the  surgeon 
for  the  Third  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry. 

Socially,  he  is  a  Mason,  K.  T.  and  a  Shriner. 

Dr.  Richings  married  Miss  Maria  Cammann, 
May  25,  1869,  and  has  one  daughter,  who  was 
born  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  who  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  S.  R.  Catlin  of  Rockford. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  305  North 
Main  street. 


W.  H.   FITCH,  M.  D., 

One  of  Rockford's  most  eminent  physicians,  was 
born  in  Cherry  Valley,  Illinois,  June  18,  1844. 


H.    FITCH,    M.    D. 


He  is  a  graduate  of  Beloit  College  and  of 
the  Medical  Department  Northwestern  Univer- 
sity. He  also  pursued  post  graduate  studies  at 


ROCKFORD 


H3 


Ann  Arbor  University,  and  the  medical  schools 
of  Vienna,  Berlin  and  London. 

Dr.  Fitch  commenced  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  Rockford  in  1870,  and  has  met  with 
eminent  success.  He  has  held  the  position  of 
consulting  surgeon  for  the  Rockford  City  Hospi- 
pal  since  its  establishment. 

While  the  doctor  pursues  no  specialty,  he  is 
considered  to  be  one  of  the  best  all-round  con- 
sultants in  this  section  of  country,  and  is  called 
in  consultation  in  critical  cases  to  all  points  in 
Northern  Illinois  and  Southern  Wisconsin. 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Illinois  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary 
for  eighteen  years,  and  of  the  Rockford  College 
during  the  last  fifteen  years,  in  both  of  which  in- 
stitutions he  has  taken  a  deep  interest. 

Dr.  Fitch  married  Miss  Katherine  Kountz, 
of  Allegheny,  Penn.,  and  has  two  children. 

Hisofficesare  Nos. 303-305  Masonic  Temple, 
and  the  family  residence  is  on  North  Main  street. 


W.  B.   HELM,  M.   D., 

Was  born  in  Butlerville,  Iowa,  October  12,  1859, 
and  was  educated  at  Beaver  Dam,  Wisconsin, 


W.    B.    HELM,    M.    D, 

High  School  from  which  he  graduated  in  1876, 
Northwestern  University  in  1881,  and  from  the 
Northwestern  University  Medical  School  in  1884. 


Dr.  Helm  comes  from  a  family  of  doctors, 
and  is  among  the  foremost  of  the  family  as  a 
successful  practitioner. 

The  doctor  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Gib- 
son, of  Rockford,  in  1887,  and  has  two  children. 

His  office  is  on  the  fifth  floor  of  the  Brown 
building,  and  the  family  residence  is  at  No.  740 
North  Church  street. 

The  doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Winnebago 
County  Medical  Society,  the  American  Medical 
Association  and  the  Central  Wisconsin  Medical 
Association. 


ALBERT  S.  GREEN,  M.   D., 

Is  a  well  known  Rockford  physician,  having  come 
to  the  city  in  1894,  where  he  has  established  a 
successful  practice. 

Dr.  Green  was  educated  at  the  Mount  Mor- 
ris Seminary,  the  Northwestern  University, 
Michigan  State  University,  and  the  Chicago 


ALBERT    S.    GREEN,    M.    D. 

Medical  College,  receiving  his  degree  from  the 
latter  in  1878.  He  began  the  practice  of  med- 
icine at  Shullsburg,  Wis.,  where  he  remained 
sixteen  years. 

Since  receiving  his  degree  he  has  done 
much  post-graduate  work.  In  1890  he  took  a 
post-graduate  course  at  the  New  York  Polyclinic. 


144 


ROCKFORD 


In  1891  a  course  at  the  New  York  Post-Gradu- 
ate Medical  College.  In  1894  he  attended  a 
course  at  the  Philadelphia  Polyclinic,  and  in 
1897  he  took  a  medical  course  at  the  New  York 
Post-Graduate  Medical  College.  It  is  not  every 
physician  that  spends  his  time  and  means  in  so 
thoroughly  perfecting  himself  for  the  work  of  his 
profession,  but  Dr.  Green  would  not  stop  short 
of  the  best  possible  equipment.  His  patients 
now  get  the  benefit  of  his  arduous  work. 

Dr.  Green  is  a  member  of  the  Winnebago 
County  Medical  Society,  Wisconsin  State  Med- 
ical Society,  Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  and 
American  Medical  Association. 

Socially,  he  is  a  Modern  Woodman  and  a 
Mason. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  806  North 
Court  street. 

Dr.  Green  married  Miss  Estelle  J.  Wells, 
and  has  four  children;  John  A.,  Walter  C., 
Harry  L.,  and  Frances  V. 


DR.  T.  N.  MILLER 

Was  born  in  Vernon,  Oneida  county,  New  York, 
August  24,  1849,  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 


Medical  Department  Northwestern  University  in 
the  class  of  1880. 

Dr.  Miller  practiced  medicine  in  Winnebago 
ten  years  and  then  removed  to  Rockford  in  1 890, 
where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a  successful  practice 
of  his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Win- 
nebago County  Medical  Society  and  has  been 
its  president  during  the  last  three  years.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Association  and  the  Central  Wis- 
consin Medical  Society. 

Dr.  Miller  married  Miss  Arvella  A.  Lane, 
June  15,  1880,  and  has  two  children  ;  Edith  A., 
who  is  now  a  senior  in  Rockford  College,  and 
Bertha  Alvera,  in  the  eighth  grade  in  Church 
school. 

Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arca- 
num. 

His  residence  is  at  No.  1304  West  State 
street. 


DR.    T.    N.    MILLER. 


lie  schools  of  Winnebago  county,  Illinois.  He 
was  graduated  from  Beloit  College  in  the  class 
of  1873,  and  from  the  Chicago  Medical  College, 


GEORGE  L.  WINN,  M.  D. 

Dr.  George  L.  Winn  was  born  in  Cleveland, 
N.  Y.,  March  10,  1851,  from  which  place  he 
removed  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  to 
Darien,  Wls.,  in  1864.  He  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools,  and  for  prepara- 
tory work  attended  the  seminary  at  Allen's 
Grove,  and  attended  the  State  University  at 
Champaign,  111.,  two  years. 

He  studied  medicine  in  the  office  of  Doctor 
Green,  at  Woodstock,  111.,  and  then  attended  the 
Ann  Arbor  University  one  year.  He  then  took 
a  course  at  the  Northwestern  Medical  school 
and  received  his  degree  in  1876. 

He  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Allen's  Grove,  Wis.,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years,  after  which  he  took  a  post 
graduate  course  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  New 
York  City.  Doctor  Winn  located  in  Rockford 
in  1882.  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Dr.  Winn  keeps  well  abreast  in  the  progress 
that  is  now  being  made  in  the  work  of  his 
profession.  He  is  a  hard  worker  and  has  met 
with  well  merited  success  in  his  practice.  He 
has  the  confidence  of  his  patrons  and  his  practice 
is  constantly  increasing. 

Doctor  Winn  is  a  member  of  the  Winnebago 
County  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical 


ROCKFORD 


'45 


Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association. 
He  is  also  the  medical  examiner  for  the 
Home  Fraternal  League,  in  Rockford. 

Doctor  Winn  married  Miss  Kate  Dixon  of 
Allen's  Grove,  in  1879,  and  has  one  son.       His 


ining  physician  for  the  Illinois  Insurance  Com- 
pany, the  A.   U.  O.  W.,  the  Royal  Neighbors, 


GEORGE  L.  WINN,  M.  D. 

offices  are  Nos.  414  and  416  Masonic  Temple, 
and  the  family  residence  is  at  No.  1225  North 
Church  street. 


C.  A.  WALKER,  M.  D. 

Was  born  in  Lake  Geneva,  September  3,  1872. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  Lake  Geneva  High 
school  in  the  class  of  1892,  and  from  the  Chi- 
cago Homeopathic  Medical  College,  in  the  class 
of  1896.  As  a  result  of  his  standing,  through 
competitive  examination,  he  was  made  house 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Cook  County  Hospital 
from  October  1,  1896  to  April  1,  1898.  He  came 
to  Rockford  in  May  1898,  to  take  the  practice 
of  J.  W.  Thomas,  where  he  has  gained  promi- 
nent standing  in  the  medical  profession.  His 
offices  are  in  rooms  301  and  302  in  the  Masonic 
Temple.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Rockford 
City  Hospital  attending  staff,  and  is  the  exam- 


.C.   A.    WALKER,   M.   D. 

and  the  Fraternal  Tribunes.  Dr.  Walker  mar- 
ried Miss  Emma  Sinclair,  of  Sarnia,  Ontario, 
June  27,  1900,  and  has  one  daughter,  Lornea. 


DR.  CHARLES  VICTOR  STARKE. 

Born  March  25th,  1853,  in  Sweden,  near 
the  city  of  Jonkoping.  After  finishing  the 
country  school  he  passed  through  Jonkoping's 
Elementar  School  1867-75.  Student  at  Upsala 
University  1875,  Medico-philosophic  exam. 
1876,Medicinae  Cand.exam.  1885  andMedecina; 
Licenciate  exam.  1889  at  Upsala,  Kingdom  of 
Sweden. 

Lived  at  Paris,  France,  Oct.,  1878-May, 
1879. 

In  March  and  April  1890  he  passed  the 
reqlementary  examinations  in  the  Facultad  de 
Ciencias  Me'dicas  of  the  University  of  Buenos 
Aires  for  admission  to  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  the  Argentine  Republic,  S.  Am.  Director  of 
the  Medico-mechanic  Gymnastic  Institute  at 
Buenos  Aires  1890-91.  Practicing  physician 
in  the  Province  of  Buenos  Aires  1892. 


146 


ROC  KFO  R  D 


Arrived  in  the  United  States  of  N.  America 
Oct.  1st  1892,  and  has  lived  at  Rockford.  111., 
since  Nov  1892,  except  18  months  passed  at 
Omaha.  Neb.,  1894-95. 

Married  1 899  to  Anna  Nordwall  from  Omaha. 

Dr.  Starke's  motto  is:  Nothing  in  humanity 
is  higher  than  truth  and  justice.  Do  the  best 
you  can  and  don't  fear  anything.  Judge  people 
after  their  acts  and  not  after  their  confessions. 


He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Rockford  in  1880,  where  he  has  now  a 
large  and  successful  practice. 


DR.  CHARLES  VICTOR  STARKE. 

Let  us  live  well  for  this  world  and  not  anxiously 
spend  our  lives  preparing  for  destinies  unknown. 
Try  to  live  and  let  other  people  try  to  live 
(German:  "Leben  und  leben  lassen"). 

As  a  practicing  physician  Dr.  Starke  is  not 
known  In  Rockford  outside  of  the  Swedish 
colony,  probably  because  of  his  nationality. 
Still  he  considers  himself  a  cosmopolite. 


ROCKWOOD  SAGER.   M.   D. 

Doctor  Sager  is  a  member  of  the  Winnebago 
County  Medical  Society.  Socially  he  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Modern  Wood- 
men. He  was  married  to  Miss  Helma  Hegberg 
of  Rockford,  in  1900,  and  resides  at  No.  1216 
South  Main  street. 


ROCKWOOD  SAGER,  M.  D. 

Rockwood  Sager,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  best 
known  physicians  of  Rockford,  was  born  in 
Belvidere,  Illinois,  in  1863.  He  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools  of  Belvidere,  and  is  a  graduate 
of  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago. 


LEMUEL  TIBBETS.  M.  D,, 

Was  born  in  Payson,  Adams  county,  Illinois, 
August  13,  1842,  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  at  St.  Paul's  College,  Palmyria, 
Missouri.  He  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine in  the  medical  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  and  completed  his 
course  at  the  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  Col- 
lege, graduating  in  1867. 

He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Dallas  City,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  six 
years.  He  removed  from  Dallas  City  to  Kirk- 
wood,  Illinois,  where  he  enjoyed  a  successful 
practice  for  six  years,  and  then  came  to  Rock- 
ford  in  1878,  where  he  has  since  remained,  and 


ROCKFORD 


'47 


has  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  Rock- 
ford's  most  eminent  physicians.  Before  com- 
ing to  Rockford,  Dr.  Tibbets  took  a  post-grad- 
uate course  in  New  York,  where  he  made  a 
special  study  of  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  dis- 
eases, and  in  connection  with  his  regular  prac- 
tice gives  special  attention  to  the  treatment  of 
these  ailments,  having  supplied  himself  with  the 
most  improved  appliances  for  the  successful 
treatment  of  these  diseases. 


DR.   RAY  DANIEL  WILLIAMS, 

Was  born  in  Anteoch,  Illinois,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  Prepared  for  college  at 
the  Northwestern  Academy  at  Evanston  and 


LEMUEL  TIBBETS,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Tibbets  was  pension  examiner  under 
both  administrations  of  President  Cleveland. 

He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  City  Hos- 
pital Association,  and  is  a  member  on  the  med- 
ical staff  of  St.  Anthony's  Hospital  for  the  treat- 
ment of  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  diseases. 

Socially,  he  is  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Freeport  Consistory,  and  Crusader 
Commandery. 

Dr.  Tibbets  was  married  to  Miss  Cornelia 
E.  Bradshaw,  of  Elida,  Illinois,  in  1872,  and  re- 
sides at  No.  834  North  Main  street. 

His  office  is  at  No.  212  West  State  street, 
which  he  has  continuously  occupied  for  twenty- 
three  years. 


RAY  DANIEL  WILLIAMS. 

received  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  at  Northwestern 
University  in  1896.  He  studied  medicine  at  the 
Chicago  Medical  College.  Dr.  Williams  is  a 
member  of  the  Winnebago  County  Medical 
Society,  the  American  Medical  Society,  and 
medical  director  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Dr.  Wil- 
liams attended  the  Marine  Biological  labora- 
tory, at  Boston,  during  the  summer  of  1895. 
His  office  is  in  the  Blaisdell  Block,  and  he 
resides  at  the  Chick  House. 


w.  A.  MCDOWELL,  M.  D. 

W.  A.  McDowell,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Kirk- 
land,  Illinois,  in  1850,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  Beloit  College.  His  medical 
education  was  obtained  at  the  Hahnemann 
Medical  College,  Chicago. 

He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Rockford  where  he  has  met  with  good  success. 


148 


ROCKFORD 


Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 
He  is  married  and  has  three  children.      His 


W.  A.  MCDOWELL,  M.   D. 

office  is  in  the  Masonic  Temple,  and  his  residence 
at  No.  904  North  Church  street. 


C.  HARRY  WOOLSEY, 

Is  a  native  of  Norfolk,  England,  and  was  born 
December  25,  1853.  He  came  to  Rockford 
with  his  parents  in  1862,  and  was  a  student  in 
the  city  schools  six  years,  when  he  became  a 
messenger  boy  for  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
Company,  and  also  learned  the  business  of  an 
operator.  When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  an  office  at  Neenah,  Wiscon- 
sin. He  was  in  the  railway  service  sixteen 
years,  nearly  all  this  time  with  the  Northwestern 
Railway  Company.  He  served  as  cashier  in 
the  Rockford  office,  ticket  agent  at  Winona, 
Minnesota,  and  as  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of 
the  F.  E.  &  M.  V.  Railway  Company  at  Missouri 
Valley,  Iowa.  He  quit  railway  service  and  re- 
turned to  Rockford  in  1887.  In  1890,  he  was 
elected  to  the  city  council  from  the  First  ward 
and  served  four  years.  In  the  campaign  of 
1894,  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  on 


the  Democratic  ticket.  At  the  municipal  elec- 
tion of  1903,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  city 
council  from  the  First  ward.  Mr.  Woolsey  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Skandia  Furniture 
Company  in  1889,  and  was  its  secretary  two 
years.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of 
P.,  M.  W.  A  and  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  societies.  Be- 


W   I 


C.  HARRY  WOOLSEY. 

ing  a  lover  of  flowers,  he  built  a  small  green 
house  in  1899,  and  has  increased  the  plant  to 
three  large  houses  besides  the  erection  of  a  fine 
sales  room. 

Mr.  Woolsey  was  married  in  1877  to  Miss 
Lina  Cora  Howes,  daughter  of  the  late  Phineas 
Howes,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Rockford, 
who  settled  here  in  1839,  and  has  had  four  child- 
ren, Ralph,  Harry,  Ella  and  Beth,  two  of  whom 
are  now  living. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  1055  East 
State  Street. 


THOMAS  CHICK, 

The  genial  proprietor  of  the  popular  hotel,  the 
Chick  House,  was  born  in  Devonshire,  England, 
November  18,  1846.  His  parents,  William  and 
Hannah  (Pengillie)  Chick,  were  natives  of  De- 


ROCKFORD 


149 


vonshire,  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1851,  when  Thomas  was  five  years  old.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  while 
still  young  learned  the  flour-milling  business  un- 
der the  supervision  of  George  Phillips.  He  also 
became  a  locomotive  engineer  and  served  in 
that  capacity  fourteen  years,  in  the  employ  of 
the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  Co.  By 
steady  application  to  business  and  the  exertion 
of  untiring  energy  he  secured  the  confidence  of 
his  employers  and  met  with  gratifying  success. 

In  1888  he  invested  his  savings  in  Rockford 
property  and  opened  the  Chick  House,  which  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  and  best  patronized 


THOMAS    CHICK 

hostelries  in  the  state.  It  is  a  model  of  neatness, 
and  its  patrons  are  made  to  feel  at  home  during 
their  stay  at  the  house.  Besides  the  hotel,  he 
is  the  owner  of  considerable  desirable  real  estate 
in  the  city  and  farming  lands  in  the  county. 

In  February,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Lena  Kennedy,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  is 
most  helpful  in  the  management  of  the  hotel, 
and  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  the  many 
patrons  of  the  house. 

Socially,  Mr.  Chick  is  a  member  of  E.  F. 
W.  Ellis  Lodge  No.  633,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
was  exalted  to  the  sublime  degree  of  Royal  Arch 


Mason  in  Winnebago  Chapter  No.  24,  and  was 
knighted  in  Crusader  Commandery  No.  17,K.T. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Tebala  Temple  of  the 
Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  has  held  various  offices  in  these 
orders.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
0.  F.,and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks. 

Mr.  and   Mrs.   Chick  reside  at  the  Chick 
House. 


FRANK  C.  WHITE, 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Illinois, 
born  at  Geneva,  111.,  June  6,  1865,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  When  only  eighteeen 
years  of  age  he  engaged  to  work  for  the  Geneva 
Grape  Sugar  Co.,  and  has  made  rapid  progress 
in  his  profession,  being  promoted  from  a  subordi- 
nate position  to  that  of  superintendent  of  one  of 
the  most  important  manufacturing  sugar  works 
in  the  world,  during  his  twenty  years  of  service. 


FRANK  C.   WHITE. 

He  started  with  the  Geneva  Grape  Sugar  Co.  in 
1 883,  and  remained  with  that  company  five  years 
during  which  time  he  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  night  superintendent.  In  1888  he  accepted 
the  position  of  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
Peoria  Grape  Sugar  Co.,  of  Peoria,  111.,  where 


ROCK  FORD 


he  remained  four  years.  After  this  he  held  the 
posisition  of  superintendent  of  theFirmenich  Mfg. 
Co.'s  works  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  the  Ameri- 
can Glucose  Co.'s  works  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and 
Peoria,  111.  In  1897  he  accepted  the  position  of 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  Chicago  Sugar 
Refining  Co.'s  plant  at  Chicago,  111.,  and  in  1899 
became  superintendent  of  the  same  plant  hold- 
ing that  position  until  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Rockford  plant  in  Sept.  1902.  Mr.  White  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order  being  a  member 
of  Geneva  Lodge  No.  139  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Fox 
River  Chapter  No.  14  R.  A.  M.,  Aurora  Com- 
mandry  No.  22  K.  T.,  Peoria  Consistory  32nd 
degree  S.  P.  R.  S.  In  1890  he  was  married 
to  Hannah  F.  Prandy  of  Pontiac,  111.  He  has 
two  sons,  Amasa  L.  White  and  Earl  C.  White. 


S.  J.  PETIT. 

S.  J.  Petit  was  born  in  Rockford  May  24, 
1877,  and  educated  in  the  city  schools.  He 
engaged  with  the  Glucose  Sugar  Refining  Com- 


s.  j.  PETIT. 

pany  in  1899  as  assistant  shipping  clerk,  and 
was  rapidly  promoted  through  all  the  clerical 
positions  of  that  institution  until  he  was  appointed 
agent  of  the  company  in  September,  1902. 


Mr.  Petit  is  a  member  of  lodge  No.  102, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Winnebago  Chapter,  No.  24, 
R.  A.  M.;  Crusader  Commandery  No.  17  K.  T.; 
Tebala  Temple  A.  A.  O.  Nobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine. 

He  is  married  and  resides  at  621  Rockton 
avenue. 


H.  H.  HAMILTON 

Comes  from  good  Old  Virginia  and  Tennessee 
stock,  his  parents  having  removed  from  Virginia 
to  Rockford  on  account  of  the  war,  where  Her- 
bert H.  was  born  in  1864. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  his  parents  returned 
to  the  south,  but  found  their  estate  and  old  plan- 
tation destroyed.  Shortly  after  reaching  the  old 
home,  the  father  died  and  the  mother  and  child- 
ren returned  to  the  north.  Mr.  Hamilton  has 
been  a  resident  of  Rockford  during  most  of  his 
life  and  received  his  education  in  the  city  schools 
and  at  Colgate  University,  New  York.  It  can 
be  truly  said  of  him  that  he  is  a  self  educated 
man,  having  worked  his  way  through  the  Col- 
gate University  and  the  Union  College  of  Law 
of  the  Northwestern  University,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1883. 

He  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Rock- 
ford  in  1885,  and  has  handled  a  large  volume  of 
business  for  his  clients.  He  has  always  enter- 
tained a  lively  interest  in  the  upbuilding  of  Rock- 
ford  and  has  contributed  largely  toward  securing 
its  present  prosperous  position. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  quick  to  see  the  future 
growth  and  possibilities  of  Rockford  and  with 
this  same  sense  of  perception  for  the  future  of 
the  new  west,  he  has  taken  up  the  work  of  assist- 
ing in  the  bringing  of  this  realization  to  the 
people  of  North  Dakota,  where  he  is  now  locating 
a  large  number  of  actual  settlers. 

Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Caroline  Shoudy 
of  Rockford,  and  has  one  daughter.  The 
family  residence  is  at  No.  933  North  Second 
street. 


A.  W.  BANKS. 

A.  W.  Banks  was  born  in  Cassopolis,  Mich., 
and  was  educated  in  the  ward  and  high  schools 
of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Ann 
Arbor  High  School.  He  also  took  a  two  years' 


ROCKFORD 


course  in  the  scientific  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan  and  a  two  years'  course  in 
chemistry  in  the  same  institution. 

From  1880  to  1888  he  was  engaged  in  the 
retail  trade  as  pharmacist  and  manufacturing 
chemist  in  Detroit,  Michigan.  From  1888  to 
the  present  time  he  has  held  the  position  of 
district  manager  for  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance 


A.  w.  BANKS 

Company  of  New  York,  in  Rockford.  Through 
his  efforts  the  business  has  assumed  large  pro- 
portions and  his  company  has  paid  more  claims 
and  has  more  representative  men  insured  than 
any  other  company  doing  business  in  the  city. 
In  fact,  of  all  the  life  assurance  representatives 
doing  business  in  the  city,  when  he  came  here, 
he  is  the  only  one  remaining  and  therefore  he 
has  the  right  to  say  that  he  controls  the  oldest 
active  life  agency  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Banks  could  relate  many  pathetic  exper- 
iences connected  with  his  business  were  he  so 
disposed.  In  all  his  life  insurance  work  he  has 
never  had  a  contested  claim,  which  goes  to  show 
that  he  knows  how  to  write  business  right. 

Mr.  Banks  claims  to  be  thoroughly  posted 
in  his  line  of  business  and  holds  a  diploma  to 


this  effect  from  Prof.  Wm.  P.  Stewart,  pro- 
fessional actuary. 

Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Star  in  the  East 
lodge,  No.  166,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Second  Congregational  church, 
having  served  a  term  as  trustee  for  this  society. 

Mr.  Banks  is  married  and  has  four  children, 
three  girls  and  one  boy.  The  daughters  have 
unusual  musical  ability,  and  the  son  is  a  lover 
of  athletics,  is  an  expert  swimmer,  and  has  the 
distinction  of  saving  three  persons  from  drowning 
in  the  Rock  river,  before  he  was  sixteen  years 
of  age. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  1  133  North 
Church  street. 


W.   H.  KE1G, 

The  popular  baker,  was  born  in  Rockford  in  May, 
1863,  and  was  educated  in  the  city  schools.  He 
served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  baker's  profes- 
sion and  became  an  expert  in  this  work. 


w.  H.  KEIG. 


He  engaged  in  the  baking  business  with  his 
brother-in-law,  W.  D.  Clark,  in  1886,  and  two 
plants,  one  on  each  side  of  the  river,  were 
operated  by  the  company.  At  the  end  of  two 


152 


ROCKFORD 


years  this  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  Mr. 
Keig  took  charge  of  the  business  on  the  West 
side. 

In  1898  Mr.  Keig  bought  the  plant  belong- 
ing to  the  Forest  City  Baking  Co..  on  Cedar 
street,  where  he  is  now  located.  His  retail  busi- 
ness is  still  carried  on  at  the  West  State  street 
plant.  He  does  a  large  wholesale  and  retail 
business  in  Rockford  and  surrounding  towns,  his 
shipments  covering  a  distance  of  300  miles. 
His  goods  are  of  excellent  quality  and  have  a 
very  high  and  well  merited  reputation. 

Mr.  Keig  is  married  and  resides  at  1230 
Grant  avenue. 

Socially,  he  is  an  Elk  and  a  Modern  Wood- 
man. 


RUFUS  W.  FINLEY. 

Rufus  W.  Finley,  M.  D.  C.  D.  V.  S.,  was 
born  on  a  farm  in  Peoria  county.  Illinois, 
February  3,  1863,  and  was  educated  in  the 


DR.  R.  W.  FINLEY. 


public  schools,  Amity  College.  College  Springs, 
Iowa;  Hedding  College,  Abingdon,  111.,  Prof. 
S.  S.  Hammell  School  of  Oratory,  Chicago; 
and  Chicago  Veterinary  College. 


After  graduating  from  the  Hammell  School 
Dr.  Finley  occupied  the  chair  of  oratory  and 
voice  training  in  the  institution  for  some  time, 
but  on  account  of  his  health  he  was  obliged  to 
surrender  his  chair  in  this  work,  and  take  up  the 
profession  of  veterinary  medicine.  He  has  met 
with  excellent  success  in  this  work.  He  com- 
menced his  practice  at  Independence,  Iowa,  in 
1891,  where  he  made  a  specialty  of  lameness 
and  dentistry  of  race  horses. 

He  was  called  to  Rockford  in  1896,  to  treat 
the  well  known  pacer,  -Wisconsin  King."  record 
of  2:11,  Aegon,  and  Londell,  all  popular  race 
horses  at  that  time.  Doctor  Finley  liked  Rock- 
ford  so  well  that  he  determined  to  make  this 
city  his  permanent  residence,  and  established 
a  home  at  No.  224  South  Court  street,  and  an 
office  at  222  South  Court  street. 

Doctor  Finley  married  Miss  Susan  McKenzie 
of  Waukesha,  Wisconsin,  in  1893,  and  has  one 
daughter. 

W.   R.   KEYT, 

Architect,  was  born  in  Piqua,  Ohio,  September 
10,  1850  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town,  graduating  from  the  high 
school  of  that  city. 

He  served  three  years  as  an  apprentice  at 
the  carpenter  trade  and  has  been  a  thorough 
student  of  the  profession  ever  since.  One  of 
the  most  marked  characteristics  of  his  work  has 
been  a  constant  effort  to  discover  better  methods 
of  construction  and  to  work  out  the  details  of 
these  discoveries,  upon  his  drafting  board,  be- 
fore he  let  them  pass.  He  has  thus  become 
one  of  the  most  reliable  and  thorough  architects  in 
this  section  of  country.  His  services  as  a  builder 
and  architect  have  been  sought  in  the  construc- 
tion of  many  of  the  most  notable  buildings  in  the 
city  and  surrounding  country.  Among  these  are 
the  Centennial  Church,  Court  Street  Church,  and 
the  rebuilding  of  the  Second  Congregational 
Church.  He  is  now  devoting  his  entire  attention 
to  architectural  work  in  all  its  branches,  having 
opened  an  office  in  the  Second  National  Bank 
building,  at  the  corner  of  State  and  Main  streets 
where  he  employs  a  strong  force  of  skilled 
draughtsmen  and  is  receiving  the  patronage  of 
those  who  desire  perfect  plans  and  detail  draw- 
ings for  the  construction  of  important  buildings. 


ROCKFORD 


Constant  study  and  close  application  to  detail 
in  the  most  approved  methods  of  construction, 
gives  Mr.  Keyt  a  prestige  which  he  well  de- 
serves. 


Fifth  avenue  and  Seventh  street.  At  the  end 
of  two  years  Mr.  Widell  bought  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Swanson,  and  continued  the  business  at  the 
same  place  alone,  doing  a  general  insurance  and 
real  estate  business. 

He  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  In 
1901,  which  office  he  still  holds. 

He  is  a  member  of  several  social  orders. 


W.  R.   KEYT. 

Mr.  Keyt  is  a  Modern  Woodman  and  a 
member  of  the  Royal  League.  He  is  married 
and  has  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 
His  daughter  is  a  valuable  assistant  in  his  office. 
He  resides  at  613  North  Horsman  street. 


SWAN    O.    WIDELL. 


SWAN  O.  WIDELL. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Jon- 
kopings  Lan,  December  2,  1866,  and  came  to 
Rockford  in  1887.  After  his  arrival  he  did  car- 
penter work  in  the  city  one  year. 

In  1888  he  engaged  with  the  Central  Furni- 
ture Co.,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and 
then  accepted  a  position  with  the  Skandia  Fur- 
niture Co.  and  remained  one  year.  In  both  of 
these  institutions  he  was  employed  as  a  cabinet 
maker. 

In  1891  he  entered  the  real  estate  office  of 
West  &  Hutchins,  where  he  spent  one  year.  In 
1892  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  J.  A. 
Swanson,  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness at  his  present  location,  at  the  corner  of 


Mr.  Widell  was  married  in  1891,  and  has  a 
family  of  three  children,  and  resides  at  1854 
East  State  street. 


WILLIAM  H.  COOK. 

William  H.  Cook,  contractor  and  builder, 
was  born  in  Boston  in  1859.  He  came  to 
Rockford  with  his  parents  when  eight  years  of 
age,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  city  schools. 

His  first  business  engagement  was  with 
Henry  Knowles  in  the  commission  business, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  His  next  en- 
gagement was  with  the  W.  F.  &  John  Barnes 
Company,  where  he  remained  two  years  and 
learned  the  machinist's  trade. 

In  1896  his  father  died.  He  was  a  carpen- 
ter and  builder,  and  Mr.  Cook  took  up  the 


154 


ROCKFORD 


business,  which  he  has  since  followed  with 
marked  success. 

Mr.  Cook  has  been  interested  in  the  con- 
struction of  many  of  Rockford's  most  important 
public  and  private  buildings,  among  which  may 
be  mentioned  the  Turner  school,  High  school, 
Brewing  Company's  plant.  Frank  Brown's  resi- 
dence, Moran's  building  on  West  State  street, 
John  H.  Sherratt's  residence,  Carnegie  Public 
Library,  Memorial  Hall,  and  many  other  struc- 
tures that  are  a  credit  to  his  genius  and  ability 
in  his  chosen  profession. 

He  is  now  engaged  in  the  construction  of 
two  beautiful  homes,  one  of  which  is  for  George 


WILLIAM  H.  COOK. 

O.  Forbes,  and  the  other  for  Dr.  W.  H  Fitch, 
on  North  Main  street. 

Mr.  Cook  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  S.  E. 
Lane  of  Rockford,  and  has  one  child.  The 
family  residence  is  at  No.  340  North  Avon 
street. 

FRANK  E.  PEARSON 

Was  born  in  Rockford,  in  1863,  of  Swedish 
parentage,  his  parents  having  come  to  Rockford 
from  Sweden  in  1852.  He  was  educated  in  the 
city  schools. 


He  is  at  present  the  efficient  superintendent 
of  the  Rockford  Manufacturing  Co.'s  plant,  in 
which  he  is  a  stockholder  and  director. 

He  was  elected  to  the  City  Council  from  the 
Second  wa>d  in  1898,  which  office  he  still  holds, 


FRANK    E.    PEARSON. 

and  is  the  chairman  of  the  fire  and  water  com- 
mittee. He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  local 
improvements  one  term. 

Socially,  he  is  manager  of  Camp  No.  51 
M.  W.  A.,  and  president  of  Lodge  No.  2,  Arch- 
ean  Union. 

Mr.  Pearson  is  married  and  has  two  sons. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  322  Baker 
Place. 


NELS  OLSON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  one  of  Rockford's 
popular  aldermen.  He  was  born  in  Sweden  in 
1 852  and  came  to  Rockford  when  fifteen  years 
of  age.  He  worked  as  a  finisher  in  the  Rock- 
ford  Furniture  factory  five  years.  He  was  then 
identified  with  Ugarff  in  the  furniture  and  under- 
taking business  two  years.  Ten  years  ago  the 
Rockford  Furniture  and  Undertaking  Company 
bought  out  Ugarff's  interest  and  Mr.  Olson  be- 


ROCKFORD 


came  a  stockholder  in  the  company  and  has 
since  been  identified  with  it  and  has  charge  of 
the  undertaking  department. 

Mr.  Olson  has  served  two  terms  as  alder- 
man from  the  Sixth  ward,  and  since  the  redis- 


this   being   191    more  than  the  combined  vote 
for  four  other  candidates. 


NELS    OLESON. 

tricting  of  the  city,  has  just  been  elected  from 
the  Second  ward — his  third  term — by  one  of  the 
largest  majorities  ever  given  an  alderman  in 
Rockford.  He  is  married  and  with  his  family 
resides  at  1203  Fifth  avenue. 


ED.  F.  CARTY 

Was  born  in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  in  January,  1868. 
He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Cherry  Valley, 
Illinois,  when  three  years  old,  and  came  to 
Rockford  in  1887.  He  engaged  in  business 
with  the  Schmauss  Company  at  their  main 
market,  on  the  East  Side.  Eleven  years  ago 
he  took  charge  of  the  business  in  South  Rockford 
where  he  has  very  successfully  managed  the 
business  since. 

Mr.  Carty  was  elected  to  represent  his  ward 
in  the  council  as  alderman,  at  the  municipal 
election  of  1903,  receiving  a  total  of  1,581  votes, 


ED.   F.  CARTY. 

Socially,  he  is  a  K.  of  P.,  K.  of  C.,  and  a 
member  of  Council  No.  24,  Redmen. 

He  resides  with  his  mother  at  1222  South 
Church  street. 


ANDREW  J.  ANDERSON 

Was  born  in  the  City  of  Rockford  June  7,  1862, 
and  has  made  this  city  his  home,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year  when  he  was  temporarily 
located  in  Texas,  and  is  of  Swedish  descent,  his 
father,  Jonas  R.  Anderson,  having  been  a  native 
of  Rydaholm,  Sweden. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  educated  in  the  city 
schools  a'nd  took  a  course  at  the  Rockford  Busi- 
ness College. 

He  was  first  employed  in  the  mechanical 
department  of  the  Rockford  Watch  Factory, 
where  he  remained  several  years. 

In  1881  the  Excelsior  Furniture  Company 
was  organized  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  and 
Mr.  Anderson  was  made  secretary  and  treasurer, 
which  position  he  held  for  eight  years. 

In  1890  he  opened  an  office  at  No.  421 
East  State  street,  where  he  conducted  a  real 
estate,  loan  and  insurance  business. 


56 


ROCKFORD 


In  January,  1898,  he  was  made  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Union  Overall  Company, 
which  position  he  has  filled  with  marked  suc- 
cess and  still  holds. 

He  had  charge  of  a  large  manufacturing 
plant  in  Texas  during  the  year  1 896,  when  he 
returned  to  Rockford. 


ANDREW    J.    ANDERSON 

He  served  in  the  City  Council  as  an  alder- 
man from  the  Second  ward  during  the  years 
1890,  1891,  1892,  1893,  1894  and  1895,  and 
was  re-elected  again  in  1903. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  to  Miss  Hilma 
O.  Johnson,  December  30,  1896,  and  has  one 
child,  a  son. 

He,  with  his  family,  resides  at  No.  942 
Kishwaukee  street. 


HERBERT  D.  TICKNOR 

Was  born  in  Rockford,  September  6,  1869,  and 
was  educated  in  the  city  schools.  His  first  busi- 
ness engagement  was  with  the  Rockford  Cabi- 
net Company  as  shipping  clerk,  which  position 
he  filled  until  the  destruction  of  the  factory  by 
fire  in  1895.  For  a  short  time  succeeding  the 
fire,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Rockford  Tail- 
oring Company. 


In  1896  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  H. 
H.  Chase,  under  the  firm  name  of  Chase  & 
Ticknor,  and  engaged  in  trade,  handling  bicycles, 
sewing  machines  and  sporting  goods.  The  firm 
dissolved  partnership  in  1901  and  Mr.  Ticknor 
has  since  conducted  the  business  alone.  He 
makes  a  specialty  of  bicycle  repairing,  and  is 
doing  a  very  successful  business  in  his  various 
lines.  Mr.  Ticknor  made  his  first  venture  in 
political  affairs  at  the  recent  municipal  election, 
when  he  was  elected  an  alderman  from  the  Fifth 
ward.  Socially  he  is  a  Modern  Woodman  and 
a  member  of  Kishwaukee  Tribe  of  Redmen, 
No.  24. 


HERBERT    D.    TICKNOR 


Mr.  Ticknor  married  Miss  Atna  N.  Wigton 
and  has  three  children,  Raymond,  Irma  and 
Fern.  The  family  home  is  at  No.  1810  West 
State  street. 


THOMAS  WINCHESTER 

Is  a  stone  cutter  by  trade.  He  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  October,  1846,  and  came  to  Rockford  in 
1857  where  he  has  since  resided. 

His   first  engagement  in  this  city  was  with 
Thomas  Ennett,  and  he  remained  with  him  until 


ROCKFORD 


157 


1890  when  he  commenced  work  on  his  own 
account  and  located  where  he  is  at  present. 

His  first  work  was  on   the  Graham  Cotton 
Mills.     He  furnished  the  stone  for  the  Library, 


THOMAS    WINCHESTER. 

Mendelssohn  Hall,  High  School,  Wight  School, 
Church  School,  Third  Ward  School  and  the 
Lincoln  School,  Mrs.  Warren's  residence,  C.  & 
N.  W.  Railway  depot,  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  many 
other  buildings  in  the  county,  the  Freeport 
Library  and  City  Hall.  He  has  the  general  con- 
tract for  the  addition  to  the  City  Hospital  and 
will  furnish  the  stone  for  the  C.  A.  Works 
residence. 

Mr.  Winchester  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  is  mar- 
ried and  has  five  children,  and  resides  at  720 
Fifth  Avenue. 


WILLIAM  CLARKE 

Was  born  in  England  in   1839,   and    came  to 
Rockford  in  1870,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

He  is  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  the  many 
residences  and  public  buildings  of  his  construc- 
tion in  this  city  attest  to  his  ability  in  his  chosen 
profession.  He  began  contract  work  here  in 
1 87 1 ,  and  his  first  work  was  the  erection  of  the 


John  Faxon  residence  on  East  State  street. 
He  next  built  the  A.  D.  Forbes  residence  on 
North  Main  street.  Among  the  more  notable 
structures  over  which  he  had  supervision  are  the 
Watch  Factory,  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church 
and  St.  James  Catholic  School,  the  John  Felch 
Block,  the  William  Crotty  Block,  the  Central 
Block,  McPherson's  Bakery,  T.  D.  Robertson's 
Block  on  West  State  street  and  the  Schmauss 
Co.  Cold  Storage  building.  The  homes  of  A. 
Albertson  and  G.  W.  Reynolds.  North  Court 
street,  might  also  be  mentioned  as  specimens 
of  his  handiwork. 


WILLIAM    CLARKE. 


Mr.  Clarke  is  married,  and  has  two  sons  who 
are  following  the  same  business,  Robert  W.  and 
Thomas  H.  Clarke  who  also  reside  in  Rockford. 

Residence,  825  North  Winnebago  street. 


JOHN  ALEXANDER 

Is  a  contractor  and  builder.  Was  born  at  For- 
far,  Scotland,  May,  1851,  and  came  to  Rock- 
ford  in  1882.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Rockford  the 
12th  day  of  May,  he  immediately  took  up  the 
work  of  his  profession  which  he  has  since  suc- 
cessfully prosecuted.  He  built  the  Northwestern 
depot  here,  Hutchins,  Lake  and  Johnson  block, 


S8 


ROCKFORD 


the  Charles  Brantingham  residence,  Mrs.  Julia 
P.  Warren's  residence  on  North  Main  street,  the 


JOHN    ALEXANDER 

Hall  School  and  Church  School,  the  Adams 
School,  Wight  School,  North  Town  bridge  and 
many  other  notable  structures  in  this  city.  He 
built  the  National  Sewing  Machine  Company's 
plant  in  Belvidere.  111.  Mr.  Alexander  is  married 
and  resides  at  1115  Harlem  Avenue. 


W.  A.  KEYT 

Is  one  of  Rockford's  prominent  contractors  and 
builders.  He  was  born  in  Grundy  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1858,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Piqua,  Ohio,  when  seven  years  of  age,  where  he 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city. 
He  came  to  Rockford  in  1882,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  construction  work  with  his  uncle,  David 
Keyt,  during  the  first  five  years. 

In  1887  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  his 
cousin,  W.  R.  Keyt,  under  the  firm  name  of 
W.  A.  &  W.  R.  Keyt,  and  during  the  next  five 
years  they  were  identified  with  the  construction 
of  a  number  of  Rockford's  prominent  residences 
and  business  places. 

Mr.  Keyt  then  continued  the  business  in  his 
own  behalf,  and  has  secured  the  contracts  for  the 


construction  of  many  important  buildings,  among 
which  might  be  mentioned  the  Lincoln  and 
Brown  Schools,  the  W.  F.  &  John  Barnes  Fac- 
tory buildings,  the  Taylor  &  Coats  and  Briggs 
Flats  and  the  Rockton  Public  Library.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  the  rebuilding  of  the  Mead  Bros.'s 
Block  which  was  recently  destroyed  by  fire. 

Mr.    Keyt   is    married  and  resides  at  323 
North  Church  street. 


J.  A.   PALM, 

Contractor  and  builder,  was  born  in  Sweden  and 
came  to  DeKalb  County,  111.,  in  1869.  He  then 
took  a  trip  through  the  south,  visiting  many  of 


j.  A.  PALM. 

its  important  cities  and  returned  to  Chicago  at 
the  time  of  the  great  fire  where  he  remained 
four  years  engaged  in  contract  work  for  masonry. 
He  came  to  Rockford  in  1874,  and  worked  for 
H.  F.  Peterson  nine  years  and  then  became  one 
of  Rockford's  leading  contractors. 

In  1882  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  An- 
drew Borg  under  the  name  of  Palm  &  Borg, 
which  continued  two  years. 

Mr.  Palm  then  took  up  the  work  on  his  own 
account  and  has  been  identifed  in  the  construc- 
tion of  many  of  Rockford's  important  business 


ROCKFORD 


'59 


places  and  residences,  among  which  are  the  Geo. 
Atkinson,  B.  A.  Knight,  John  Chick,  Stapleton, 
and  John  H.  Sherratt  residences,  the  Fisher 
flats,  Rockford  Wholesale  Grocery  Company's 
building  and  the  Wheelock  Crockery  store.  Mr. 
Palm  built  the  larger  part  of  the  big  stores  on 
Seventh  street  and  has  been  identified  in  the 
construction  work  of  many  other  prominent 
buildings  in  Rockford. 

Mr.  Palm  is  married  and   has  six  children 
and  resides  with  his  family  at  224  Seventh  street. 


ABNER  JOHNSON 

Is  a  well  known  carpenter  and  builder,  and  was 
born  at  Hamburg,  Pa.,  January  28.  1854.  When 
nine  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Greene  county. 


be  mentioned  Frank  Burr's  residence,  Knuts- 
son's  residence  on  Church  street,  the  Rice  flats 
on  West  State  street,  and  the  Flynn  flats  on 
North  Main  street.  He  also  did  the  wood  work 
in  the  construction  of  the  Schmauss  block. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  the  contract  for  the  six 
double  houses  to  be  erected  by  Mr.  Ziock,  and 
the  remodeling  of  the  house  on  the  grounds  to 
be  moved  to  Mulberry  street,  making  seven 
houses  in  all,  said  contract  obtained  without 
opposition. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  Modern  Woodman,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  the  Globe  and  of  the  Mys- 
tic Workers. 

He  is  married  and  has  four  children,  and 
resides  at  121  North  Winnebago  street. 


RODERICK   MACK1NZ1E 

Was  born  at  Inverness,  Scotland  May  8th,  1859. 
He  sen^  an  apprenticeship  in  the  art  of  stone 


ABNER  JOHNSON. 

Wis.,  with  his  parents,  where  he  resided  for 
thirteen  years.  In  1875  he  removed  to  Lena, 
Illinois,  where  he  acquired  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  constructed  several  important  buildings  in 
that  city.  In  1887  he  removed  to  Freeport, 
Illinois,  where  he  carried  on  his  business  until 
1891 ,  when  he  came  to  Rockford,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

He  has  been  identified  with  considerable  con- 
struction work  in  this  city,  among  which  might 


RODERICK    MACKINZIE. 

cutting  five  years  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  Scot- 
land. During  this  time  he  also  acquired  the 
mason's  trade.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  country,  which  implies 
thorough  equipment  in  all  practical  branches. 


i6o 


ROCKFORD 


Mr.  MacKinzie  came  to  Rockford  when  twenty- 
three  years  of  age  and  immediately  engaged  in 
the  work  of  his  profession,  contracting  for  the 
most  important  construction  then  going  on.  He 
furnished  the  stone  and  built  the  High  school  at 
Delavan,  Wis.,  the  Janesville  High  school  at 
Janesville,  Wis.,  the  Kishwaukee  school  of  Rock- 
ford,  111.,  and  the  Davis  Junction  school  at 
Davis  Junction,  111.,  and  did  the  mason  work  on 
the  St.  Anthony  hospital.  He  did  the  work  and 
furnished  the  material  for  the  Hess  &  Hopkins' 
building.  He  built  the  fine  residence  for  B.  B. 
Page,  of  native  blue  stone  and  blue  Bedford 
trimmings,  Charles  Brown's  residence,  of  Naper- 
ville  stone,  and  the  fine  residence  for  Hosmer 
Porter.  He  was  also  the  contractor  for  the 
building  of  the  beautiful  Mendelssohn  Hall, 
W.  T.  Staplin  block  in  South  Rockford,  the  paper 
mills  on  each  side  of  the  river,  the  Bolt  works, 
and  five  buildings  for  the  Sewing  Machine 
Company,  and  Trinity  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.    MacKinzie    resides    at    950    Thomas 
street,  in  the  fourth  ward. 


contract  for  the  construction  of  the  new  six  story 
building  for  Andrew  Ashton. 


GUST  HOLM, 

Contractor  and  builder,  was  born  in  Sweden  July 
15th,  1852,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  country.  He  served  an  apprenticeship 
in  the  builder's  trade,  in  Sweden.  He  came  to 
Rockford  directly  from  Sweden  in  1880,  and 
immediately  began  the  work  of  his  profession.- 
He  constructed  twenty  or  more  of  the  principal 
business  blocks  on  Seventh  Street,  did  the  car- 
penter work  on  the  Republic  building  and  Ma- 
sonic Temple,  rebuilt  the  Appel  store,  built  the 
Rockford  Frame  and  Picture  Co. 's  building,  the 
Rockford  Palace  Folding  Bed  Co.'s  building,  the 
Haddorff  Piano  Co.'s  plant,  the  Brown  &  Son 
Piano  Co.'s  plant,  the  West  End  Furniture  Co.'s 
plant,  the  B.  F.  Barnes  Co.'s  plant,  a  part  of 
the  Union  Furniture  Co.'s  plant  a  part  of  the 
Chair  and  Furniture  Factory,  a  part  of  Rockford 
Standard  Furniture  Co.'s  plant,  and  a  part 
of  Love  Mfg.  Co.'s  plant,  the  Globe  Clothing 
Co.'s  plant,  the  Stevens  &  Duel  plant,  a 
part  of  the  W.  F.  &.  John  Barnes  plant,  the 
Church  School,  Aug.  Floberg's  residence  and  a 
number  of  other  residences  and  flats,  and  has  the 


GUST  HOLM. 

Mr.  Holm  is  married  and  has  four  children. 
His  home  is  at  No.  1604  Fourth  Avenue. 


W.  J.  SHAW, 

Carpenter  and  builder,  was  born  in  Owen  town- 
ship, Winnebego  county  Illinois,  March  8,  1859, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  He  is 
a  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Shaw  who  came  to 
Winnebago  county  in  1853,  and  are  now  resi- 
dents of  Guilford  township.  Mr.  Shaw  lived  upon 
the  farm  until  coming  to  Rockford  in  1889, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

He  engaged  in  carpenter  work,  in  Guilford, 
in  1881 ,  and  has  continued  this  business  in  this 
city  since. 

Among  some  of  the  more  important  struc- 
tures over  which  he  has  had  supervision  are  the 
residences  of  Dr.  Franklin.  Wm.  Eddy  on  East 
State  street,  T.  E.  Buckbee  on  Kishwaukee 
street.  Chris.  Landen  on  Franklin  avenue,  H. 
K.  Hall  flats  on  East  street,  John  Agnew  on 
Franklin  avenue,  Miss  Elizabeth  Hancock  flats 
on  North  First  street,  and  many  other  buildings 


ROC  K  FO  R  D 


161 


throughout  the  city  and  county  that  attest  to  his 
skill  in  structural  work.  His  business  during 
the  past  year  amounted  to  over  twenty  thousand 
dollars  in  this  class  of  work. 


w.  j.  SHAW. 

He  married  Miss  Lizzie  F.  Marsh,  the 
daughter  of  Averill  Marsh,  of  Guilford,  June  27, 
1889,  and  has  three  children,  Ellis,  Eleanor, 
and  Hazel,  and  resides  at  622  North  Third 
street,  this  city. 


DAVID  CARLSON 

Is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  is  a  contractor  and 
builder.  He  was  born  in  Sweden  December  15, 
1855,  and  came  to  Rockford  in  1881.  He 
learned  his  trade  in  his  native  country  where  he 
became  an  efficient  workman.  Upon  arrival 
here  he  engaged  to  work  for  Cahill  &  Tucker, 
with  whom  he  remained  two  years. 

His  first  work  on  his  own  account  was  for 
the  interior  finishing  of  Zion  Lutheran  chuch  in 
1886.  Then  followed  the  erection  of  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church,  the  Liljeholm  residence  on 
East  State  street,  John  Hart's  residence  on 
North  Second  street,  (now  owned  by  Mr.  Gollyj 


the  carpenter  work  on  the  Skandia  Hardware 
Co.'s  building,  the  Charles  Olander  building  on 
Seventh  street,  the  Peterson  block  on  Seventh 
street,  the  Rockford  Furniture  and  Undertaking 
Co.'s  building  on  Seventh  street,  two  flats  for 
Wm.  Johnson  on  Second  and  Walnut  streets, 
the  A  T.  Barnes  residence  on  National  avenue, 
the  Fisher  flats  on  North  Church  street,  the 
Rockford  Mfg.  Co.'s  plant,  residence  for  self  on 


DAVID    CARLSON. 


Second  avenue,  and  many  other  residences  and 
business  places  in  this  city  and  vicinity.  Mr. 
Carlson  is  married  and  has  four  children.  He 
resides  at  1217  South  Sixth  street. 


W.  T.   NORTON 

Is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  is  a  contractor  and 
builder.  He  was  born  at  Homer,  Minn.,  Jan- 
uary 12th,  1866.  He  came  to  Rockford  in 
1889  and  engaged  to  work  for  Reitch  Bros., 
with  whom  he  remained  six  years,  when  he  com- 
menced to  do  contract  work  on  his  own  account. 
He  has  been  a  successful  contractor  and  builder 
for  eight  years,  having  during  this  time  built 
many  prominent  residences  in  this  city,  among 
which  might  be  mentioned  the  William  Moffatt 
residence,  the  Richardson  flats,  Mrs.  VanDe- 


i6a 


ROCKFORD 


mark's  residence,  the  Frank  Green  residence 
and  the  Wm.  Knowlton  residence.  He  now  has  in 
course  of  construction  a  fine  residence  for  Lizzie 
Best,  at  the  corner  of  Oakwood  and  West  State 


amount  of  work  to  be  accomplished  in  so  short 
a  time.     Mr.  Lyddon  is  married  and  resides  at 


B.   R.   LYDDON. 


W.   T.    NORTON. 

streets.  He  erected  two  houses  for  Frank  Marsh 
on  Marsh  Court,  and  is  now  building  a  fine  resi- 
dence for  James  Allen  on  Blaisdell  street.  Mr. 
Norton  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Wood- 
men fraternities. 


1713  Chestnut  street, 
constitute  the  family. 


A  wife  and  three  children 


B.  R.  LYDDON 

Is  a  contractor  and  builder.  He  was  born  in 
Summersetshire,  England,  in  1866;  came  to 
America  in  1877.  Moved  to  Rockford  1890,  and 
has  been  identified  with  the  growth  of  the  city 
since.  His  first  business  venture  here  was  with 
his  brother,  and  the  partnership  continued  six 
years.  He  then  continued  business  on  his  own 
account.  He  has  built  many  residences  and  other 
buildings  among  which  might  be  mentioned: 
The  homes  of  Fritz  Ulrici,  Douglas  Ulrici, 
Frank  Regan,  Harry  Chase,  T.  S.  Rider,  H.  D. 
Ticknor,  W.  W.  Hixon,  and  over  one  hundred 
others.  He  has  also  done  a  large  business  build- 
ing large  frame  barns.  This  represents  a  large 


C.  J.  SWANSON, 

Contractor  and  builder,  was  born  at  Jonkopengs 
L;'in,  Sweden,  in  1855,  and  was  educated  in  his 
native  country.  He  was  a  contractor  and  builder 
at  Upsala,  Sweden,  from  1879  to  1881,  when 
he  came  to  America  and  located  at  Springfield, 
Mo.,  where  he  was  employed  as  foreman  in  the 
D.  E.  Davis  planing  mills  for  two  years.  He 
then  engaged  with  A.  Skog,  of  Springfield,  as 
foreman  of  construction  work,  and  continued  in 
this  capacity  four  years.  He  then  engaged  in 
contract  work  on  his  own  account  and  did  a  large 
amount  of  work  in  that  city.  Mr.  Swanson  came 
to  Rockford  in  1892,  and  engaged  with  the 
Rock  River  Planing  mills  as  sash  and  door 
maker.  He  was  the  first  man  in  Rockford  to 
make  veneered  doors.  He  made  the  interior 
finish  for  the  W.  F.  Barnes  residence,  North 
Main  street.  He  was  also  the  builder  of  Mrs. 
Julia  Warren's  residence  on  North  Main  street, 


ROCKFORD 


163 


the  L.  Johnson  flats,  First  avenue  and  Fifth 
street,  the  C.  Colby  flats  on  North  Third  street, 
the  J.  Colville  flats  on  South  Third  street,  the  D. 
S  Hough  flats  on  North  Third  street,  Gust  John- 
son's residence  on  Longwood  street,  McEvoy's 
residence  on  Spafford  avenue,  O.  M.  Brown's 
residence  on  Lawn  place,  four  of  the  W.  H. 
Miller  flats  on  Fourth  avenue  and  Twelfth  street, 
C.  Widman's  residence  on  Fourth  avenue,  and 


He  has  been  a  successful  contractor  and 
builder,  and  has  constructed  many  business 
places  and  residences  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 


C.  J.  SWANSON. 


the  Wilmarth  flats  on  Kishwaukee  street,  and 
many  others.  Mr.  Swanson's  shop  and  residence 
are  at  1 206  South  Fifth  street. 


FRANK  P.  NEWBURG 

Was  born  in  Sweden  in  1868,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  country.  He  came 
to  Rockford  in  1888  and  engaged  in  carpenter 
work  for  his  brother.  Later  he  took  a  position 
as  foreman  for  Newburg  &  Nygren,  contractors 
and  builders,  and  remained  with  them  three 
years.  He  then  went  to  Belvidere  where  he  did 
contract  work  for  about  two  years.  Returning 
to  Rockford  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Mr. 
Nygren,  under  the  firm  name  of  Newburg  & 
Nygren,  and  continued  the  business  two  years, 
when  the  firm  dissolved,  and  he  has  since  con- 
tinued the  business  alone. 


FRANK    P.    NEWBURG. 

Mr.  Newburg  is  married,  and  with  his  fam- 
ily of  wife  and  two  children,  resides  at  1317 
Tenth  avenue. 

Mr.  Newburg's  motto  is :  Do  justice  to 
everybody  and  life  is  a  pleasure  and  death  is  a 
gain. 


JOHN  McLEE 

Is  a  carpenter  and  builder  and  was  born  in  Rock- 
ford,  March  6,  1867.  He  was  educated  in  the 
city  schools,  and  this  city  has  been  his  home 
continuously.  He  began  doing  contract  work  on 
his  own  account  in  1 888 ,  and  has  been  the  builder 
of  many  important  public  buildings  and  private 
residences,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
Renwick  residence,  corner  Morgan  and  Church 
streets,  J.  C.  Gregory  residence  on  Hinkley 
street,  McCormick  flats  on  North  Winnebago 
street,  Bracken  residence  on  South  Winnebago 
street,  and  the  John  A.  Lins  residence,  corner 
of  Grant  avenue  and  Napoleon  street,  Liner  res- 
idence on  Napoleon  street,  and  many  others. 
He  has  done  the  general  repair  work  on  the 
public  school  buildings  in  the  city.  Mr.  McLee 


164 


ROCKFORD 


is  a  Modern  Woodman  of  Camp  No.  5 1 ,  Knight 
of  Columbia  No.    792,  and   a  member  of  the 


JOHN    MC  LEE. 

Archean    Union.     He    has    a   family   of  three 
children,  and  resides  at  1111  Chesnut  street. 


that  time,  he  established  the  Rockford  Cornice 
Works  at  the  corner  of  South  Third  and  East 
State  streets.  The  business  was  carried  on  in 
this  plant  until  two  years  ago,  when  it  became 
necessary  to  have  larger  quarters.  Mr.  Martin 
decided  to  have  a  factory  of  his  own  for  the 
business,  and  had  the  building  at  312  and  314 
Market  street  erected,  where  the  business  is 
now  carried  on.  The  factory  is  one  of  the 
largest  and  best  equipped  of  its  kind  in  northern 
Illinois.  A  large  quantity  of  the  product  is 
shipped  to  jobbers  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

They  manufacture  and  contract  for  sheet 
metal  fronts  and  cornices,  skylights,  ventilators, 
steel  ceilings,  eavestroughs,  conductor  pipes, 
rain  water  filters,  and  metal,  slate  and  tile 
roofing,  etc. 

Mr.  Martin  personally  superintends  all  work 
done  by  the  firm.  This  company  has  furnished 
the  work  in  their  line  for  many  important  build- 
ings in  this  city  and  vicinity,  among  which  is 
the  Turner  school,  the  Blake  school,  the  High 


ALFRED  MARTIN 

Was  the  first  manufacturer  of  sheet  metal 
cornices  in  Rockford.  He  was  born  in  Canada 
and  came  to  the  United  States  when  about 
twenty  years  of  age.  Although  quite  young,  he 
was  well  advanced  in  the  art  of  sheet  metal 
work,  having  already  served  six  years  at  the 
trade  with  his  father  who  was  engaged  in  the 
same  business,  and  he  has  grown  up,  as  it  were, 
right  in  the  work. 

He  first  came  to  Michigan  and  worked  in 
the  principal  cities  in  that  state  and  then  traveled, 
working  at  his  trade  in  most  of  the  principal 
cities  from  Michigan  to  the  Pacific  in  the  west, 
and  from  Canada  in  the  north  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  in  the  south.  Having  gained  a  wide 
experience  in  the  sheet  metal  trade,  through  his 
travels,  he  decided  to  go  into  the  business. 

Coming  to  Rockford  about  twelve  years  ago 
and  seeing  a  good  opening  for  a  cornice  business, 
as  there  was  no  business  of  the  kind  here  at 


ALFRED  MARTIN. 


school,  Rockford  Brewery,  Memorial  Hall,  the 
Library  building,  Trinity  church,  also  St.  Paul's 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church  at  Fort  Atkinson, 
Wis.,  St.  Mary's  Catholic  school,  Freeport,  111., 


ROCKFORD 


165 


sheriff's  residence  and  jail  at  Belvidere,  111.,  and 
many  other  large  buildings  in  different  parts  of 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  too  numerous  to  mention. 

Mr.  Martin  is  the  patentee  of  the  Perfection 
rain  water  filter  which  has  a  large  sale  over  a 
wide  area  of  country,  and  is  well  known  in 
Rockford  as  there  are  hundreds  of  them  in  use 
in  the  city. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum  and  I.  O.  0.  F.  He  is  married  and 
resides  at  804  North  Second  street. 


tion  of  Quarter  Master  General  M.  W.  A.  For- 
ester with  rank  of  colonel. 

His  residence  is  at  218  South  Court  street. 


PETER  T.  ANDERSON 

Is  a  plasterer  by  trade.  He  was  born  in  Scot- 
land, and  came  to  Rockford  in  1882,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

He  has  had  the  contracts  for  plastering  a 
large  number  of  public  and  private  buildings  in 
the  city  and  vicinity,  among  which  can  be  men- 


PETER    T.    ANDERSON. 

tioned  H.  W.  Price's  residence,  John  Sherratt's 
residence,  J.  B.  Whitehead's  residence,  the  Pub- 
lic Library,  Memorial  Hall,  High  School,  Frank 
Bunn's  residence,  and  the  C.  F.  Henry  flats, 
and  others  too  numerous  to  mention. 

Mr.  Anderson  is  a  K.  P.,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  and 
Modern  Woodman,  and  at  present  holds  the  posi- 


GEORGE  W.  BALDWIN 

Was  born  in  Mt.  Clair,  New  Jersey,  June  16, 
1836,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town.  He  learned  the  plasterer's  trade 
in  all  its  branches,  both  plain  and  ornamental,  at 
Newark,  N.  J. 

In   1855  he  removed  to  Michigan,  where  he 
remained  four  years,  and  then  returned  to  New 


GEORGE    "W.     BALDWIN. 

Jersey.  In  1865  he  removed  to  Rochelle,  Illi- 
nois, and  to  Rockford  in  1 88 1 ,  where  he  has 
since  resided. 

He  was  engaged  upon  the  finishing  work  of 
many  of  Rockford's  finest  buildings,  among 
which  is  the  Second  Congregational  church,  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  building,  Germania  Hall,  Christian 
Union  church,  nine  city  school  buildings,  Wait 
Talcott's  new  residence,  Charles  Brantingham's 
new  residence,  Wilkins'  flats,  Fay  Lewis  and 
Masonic  buildings  and  Northwestern  depot. 

Mr.  Baldwin  married  Miss  Emma  F.  Cour- 
der  of  New  York  city.  His  home  is  at  No.  201 
Summit  street. 


1 66 


ROCKFORD 


E.  J.  RYAN 

Is  a  plasterer  by  trade.  He  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1851. 

In  1871  he  removed  to  Chicago  where  he 
acquired  his  trade  and  was  employed  as  a 
plasterer  there  for  six  years.  He  then  removed 
to  Madison  Wis.,  where  he  plied  his  trade  for 
twelve  years.  He  then  came  to  Rockford  where 
he  has  since  remained. 

Among  the  buildings  plastered  by  Mr.  Ryan 
are  the  Nelson  and  Parmelee  residences,  the 
Roper  and  Treat  flats,  St.  Anthony's  hospital 
and  the  Mead  block. 


E.   J.   RYAN. 

Mr.  Ryan  is  a  Modern  Woodman  and  a 
Royal  Neighbor.  He  is  married  and  has  six 
children,  and  resides  at  207  Longwood  street. 
His  office  is  at  1 10  North  Court  street. 


J.   F.  WISNER. 

This  cut  is  that  of  J.  F.  Wisner,  the  well 
known  contractor  and  builder  of  cement  and  tar 
sidewalks. 

Mr.  Wisner  was  born  in  Lake  county,  Illinois, 
in  1848.  He  removed  to  Lafayette,  Indiana,  in 
1873,  and  came  to  Rockford  in  1888,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 


His  business  exceeds  in  magnitude  that  of 
all  others  in  this  line  in  the  city,  and  extends 
over  Northern  Illinois,  South  Dakota  and  several 
towns  in  Iowa,  and  he  is  largely  advertised  by 
the  imprint  of  his  name  in  the  walks  he  lays. 


j.  F.  WISNER. 

Mr.  Wisner  has  one  of  the  finest  homes  on 
the  East  side,  located  on  Rural  street,  opposite 
the  East  side  cemetery. 

His  good  wife  conducts  an  experimental  fruit 
and  flower  garden,  and  is  a  breeder  of  pure  blood 
White  Wyandotte  poultry. 


P.  W.  WELCH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Rock- 
ford  January  17,  1856,  and  has  occupied  his 
present  place  of  business  during  the  past  ten  years 
as  agent  for  the  United  States  Brewing  Company 
of  Chicago,  111.,  distributing  in  Rockford  and 
many  surrounding  cities  and  towns  the  celebrated 
Rheingold  and  Loewenbrau  Beer,  Rheingold 
Export,  and  Malt  Liquid,  Blatz  Milwaukee  Beer, 
Weiner,  Private  Stock,  Export  and  Malt  Vivine 
to  wholesale  trade  and  for  family  use.  All  have 
an  absolute  guarantee  for  purity.  Special 
attention  is  given  orders  for  all  kinds  of  case 


ROCKFORD 


167 


goods  for  family  use.      The  bottling  works  and 
storage    are   located   at   328    North    Madison 


P.   W.    WELCH. 

street.       'Phor.e  number  543.  both  Home  and 
Central  Union. 


JAMES  P.  WALSH 

Was  born  in  Rockford  in  1867.  When  quite 
young  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with 
his  father.  Later  his  father  bought  the  Lincoln 
bottling  works,  located  at  414  South  Main  street. 
His  business  so  increased  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  secure  more  room  and  better  facilities 
for  handling  his  trade.  The  result  was  a  move 
to  501-503  South  Church  street,  where  in  1895 
he  erected  a  new  building,  adapted  to  his  needs. 
Here  the  father  retired  and  the  son  conducted  a 
prosperous  business  at  this  place  for  five  years. 
He  sold  this  property  to  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R. 
company  and  removed  to  his  present  location, 
502-506  Cedar  street,  corner  Court  street,  hav- 
ing purchased  the  property  of  the  American 
Cereal  company. 

Mr.  Walsh  now  has  one  of  the  finest  bottling 
establishments  in  the  west,  being  equipped  with 
modern  machinery,  and  manufactures  pops, 
ginger  ale,  mineral  waters,  and  all  carbonated 


beverages,  selling  these  goods  all  over  northern 
Illinois,  southern  Wisconsin  and  eastern  Iowa. 
He  also  carries  a  full  line  of  saloon  supplies, 
such  as  glassware,  flasks,  corks,  cordials, 
bromos,  etc.  He  handles  pure  apple  cider,  and 
has  been  agent  for  Fred  Miller,  "The  Best" 
Milwaukee  beer,  and  Hemming's  "  Janesville  " 
ales  and  porters  during  the  last  twenty  years. 


JAMES  P.  WALSH. 

The  bottling  works  are  open  for  inspection 
at  all  times.  Visitors  will  be  courteously  re- 
ceived by  Mr.  Walsh  or  his  gentlemanly 
assistants. 


MAX  HOPPE 

Was  born  in  Hirshburg,  Germany,  September 
5,  1867,  and  was  educated  in  his  native  country. 

He  learned  the  brewing  business  in  Germany, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  trade  seven  years. 
He  visited  all  the  leading  cities  of  Europe,  and 
worked  in  several  of  the  most  important  brew- 
eries of  that  country. 

He  came  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  in  1891, 
where  he  was  employed  in  the  Pabst  brewery, 
the  largest  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 

In  1892  he  came  to  Rockford  and  bought 
the  interest  of  Charles  Meyer  as  the  agent  for 
the  Schlitz  Brewing  Co.  in  this  city. 


1 68 


ROCKFORD 


In  1896  he  secured  the  agency  for  the 
Pabst  Brewing  Co.,  thus  representing  two  of  the 
most  noted  institutions  in  this  or  any  other  coun- 
try. He  carries  on  a  large  wholesale  and  retail 
trade,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  bottling  both 
Pabst's  and  Schlitz'  beer  for  family  use. 

His  business  is  located  at  No.  218  Walnut 
street. 

Mr.  Hoppe  is  married  and  has  two  sons. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  129  South 
Madison  street. 


P.  A.  SPONBERG. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Sweden  in  June,  1863,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  Rockford  in  1 882. 

He  entered  into  an  engagement  with  W.  D. 
Clark  and  remained  in  his  employ  eight  and 
one  half  years.  Mr.  Clark  then  sold  his  interest 


p.  A.  SPONBERG. 

to  the  Forest  City  Baking  company  and  Mr. 
Sponberg  remained  with  this  company  three 
years. 

He  then  went  into  business  for  himself,  secur- 
ing the  agency  for  the  Anheuser-Busch  Brew- 
ing Company's  beer,  and  to  this  he  added  the  bot- 


tling works  in  1895.  He  has  now  a  fine  whole- 
sale and  retail  business  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  supplying  private  families.  He  handles 
Besley's  Waukegan  ale,  Schlink  ale  and  porter 
of  Belvidere,  Budweiser  and  standard  grades  of 
Anheuser-Busch 's  celebrated  beer.  He  also 
keeps  on  hand  Malt  Nutrine  for  medicinal 
purposes. 

Mr.  Sponberg  is  married  and  has  one  child. 
He  resides  at  401  Seventh  street. 


P.  A.   PETERSON. 

One  of  Rockford's  foremost  Swedish  citi- 
zens, was  born  in  Ving  Vestergotland,  Province  of 
Smoland,  Sweden.  September  8,  1848,  and  was 
but  two  years  old  when  his  parents  emigrated  to 
this  country  on  board  a  sailing  vessel  and  arrived 
in  New  York  after  a  voyage  of  several  weeks 
duration. 

From  New  York  they  came  to  Winnebago 
County  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  township  of 
Cherry  Valley,  where  the  son  grew  to  manhocd 


p.  A.  PETERSON. 


and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  Be- 
ing possessed  of  rare  business  abilities,  he 
found  his  way  to  Rockford  where  a  large  field 
for  enterprise  and  keen  business  accumen  pre- 


ROCKFORD 


169 


sented  itself  and  of  which  he  desired  to  pos- 
sess himself.  Capitalists  and  business  men  had 
confidence  in  his  ability  and  integrity,  and  sought 
his  services  in  the  promotion  of  various  manu- 
facturing enterprises.  Mr.  Peterson's  keen  per- 
ception enabled  him  to  see  the  advantages  pos- 
sessed by  Rockford  as  a  furniture  manufactur- 
ing center,  and  the  possibilities  of  the  co-opera- 
tive plan  of  production. 

This  plan  was  at  once  put  into  effective  op- 
eration, and  its  success  has  demonstrated  the 
soundness  of  his  judgment.  He  is  now  inter- 
ested in  more  industrial  undertakings  than  any 
other  resident  of  the  city.  His  interests  are 
largely  located  on  the  East  side  of  the  river 
amid  the  Swedish  population  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  directly  or  indirectly  con- 
nected with  twelve  or  fifteen  manufacturing  in- 
dustries as  an  official  or  stockholder,  all  of 
which  are  meeting  with  satisfactory  results. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church,  but  is  not  identified  with  any 
social  order. 


has  four  children;  Harry  S.,  who   is  a  noted 
opera   singer,   Grace   L.    (Mellen)    residing  at 


W.  W.  AUSTIN 

Is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  Wheaton  College.  His  boy- 
hood days  were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm 
near  Rockton.  He  began  teaching  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
rapidly  advanced  in  the  work  to  the  principalship 
of  the  South  Belvidere  schools  and  at  Rockton, 
Illinois.  He  also  served  as  bookkeeper  in  the 
offices  of  W.  A.  Knowlton,  late  of  Rockford, 
Peet  &  Keeler  of  Beloit,  M.  D.  Keeney  of 
Rockton,  and  Keeney  Bros,  of  Rockford.  He 
has  written  for  the  newspapers  for  many  years, 
and  has  contributed  scientific  articles  to  several 
popular  magazines.  He  served  as  city  editor  on 
the  Laurel  Chronicle,  of  Laurel,  Mississippi,  in 
which  position  he  was  very  successful. 

In  connection  with  his  school  work  he  has 
written  a  Natural  History  of  Animals,  which  re- 
ceived high  commendation  from  several  eminent 
critics.  His  latest  work  is  the  writing  of  ROCK- 
FORD  TO-DAY. 

Mr.  Austin  married  Miss  Josephine  A.Drury, 
of  Beloit,  who  died  several  years  since.  He 


W.    W.    AUSTIN. 


Rockton,  Etta  M.   (Harmon)   residing  in  Mil- 
waukee, and  Ernest  W. 

Socially,  he  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and   Red  Man. 


CHARLES  L.  MILLER. 

Charles  L.  Miller's  first  newspaper  experi- 
ence was  in  Ogle  county,  where  for  a  time  he 
edited  the  Rochelle  Register,  and  later  was  pro- 
prietor of  the  Oregon  Reporter.  In  1877  he 
came  to  Rockford,  where  he  purchased  an  inter- 
est in  the  Weekly  Register.  In  October  of  that 
year  he  established  the  Daily  Register,  the  first 
daily  newspaper  in  Rockford  to  achieve  a  per- 
manent existence.  The  Register  remained  un- 
der his  editorial  and  business  management  for 
fourteen  years  when  he  sold  the  paper  to  Mr. 
E.  E.  Bartlett,  and  removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois, 
where  he  became  one  of  the  proprietors  and  edi- 
tor of  the  Daily  Herald  of  that  city.  In  1896 
he  returned  to  Rockford  to  become  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Daily  Republic.  At  present 
he  is  managing  editor  of  the  Republic  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Republic  company,  and  president  of 
the  Quincy  Herald  company. 


170 


ROCKFORD 


HOWARD  O.  HILTON 

Was  born  upon  a  farm  in  Kansas  in  1863,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  attended 
the  University  at  Lincoln,  for  a  time,  but  was 
not  a  graduate.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent 
upon  the  farm,  but  early  in  life  he  engaged  in 
newspaper  work  and  has  met  with  marked  suc- 
cess. He  has  filled  important  positions  upon 
the  staff  of  papers  in  Illinois  and  other  states. 

His  work  in  Rockford  has  been  in  connection 
with  the  Register,  and  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Rockford  Republic,  of  which  he  is  the 
political  editor. 

His  services  have  been  sought  after  by  the 
Republican  party,  in  numerous  campaigns,  as  a 
platform  speaker  and  manager.  He  has  twice 
represented  his  district  on  the  state  committee, 
in  which  capacity  he  did  excellent  work.  He 
was  state  canal  commissioner  under  Governor 
John  R.  Tanner,  and  is  now  Congressman  Ful- 
ler's private  secretary. 

Mr.  Hilton,  at  one  time,  held  a  responsible 
position  in  a  bank,  but  has  never  asked  election 
to  a  political  office. 

He  is  married  and  has  two  daughters. 


J.   E.  WARFIELD, 

Business  Manager  of  the  Daily  Republic,  has 
been  in  the  newspaper  business,  in  Rockford. 
during  the  past  twenty  years.  His  first  engage- 
ment was  with  the  Register  for  a  period  of 
five  years,  and  then  for  the  same  length  of  time 
with  the  Morning  Star. 

In  1896,  in  company  with  C.  L.  Miller  and 
H.  M.  Johnson,  he  purchased  the  old  Republi- 
can. The  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to 
the  Daily  Republic,  of  which  he  is  now  business 
manager. 

Mr.  Warfield  has  been  a  resident  of  Rockford 
since  1883.  He  was  born  at  Mt.  Carroll,  111. 

He  married  Miss  Alma  C.  Bacon  of  Milton, 
Wisconsin,  and  has  three  daughters. 


EDGAR  E.  BARTLETT, 

Publisher  of  the  Register-Gazette,  came  to 
Rockford  January  1st.,  1891,  and  consolidated 
the  old  Register  and  Gazette  into  what  has  since 
been  known  as  the  Register-Gazette.  Mr.  Bart- 


lett  was  for  twelve  years,  previous  to  this,  adver- 
tising and  business  manager  of  the  Kalamazoo 
Telegraph,  one  of  the  strong  papers  of  interior 
Michigan,  and  since  coming  to  Rockford  has 
made  the  Register-Gazette  a  potent  factor  in  the 
newspaper  field  of  the  city.  During  this  time 


EDGAR    E.    BARTLETT. 

the  newspaper  plant,  over  the  business  end  of 
which  he  has  presided,  has  been  vastly  improved 
by  the  addition  of  the  telegraph,  Associated 
Press  news  service,  Mergenthaler  Linotype  cast- 
ing machines  and  a  fast  press,  all  of  which  have 
combined  to  make  the  Register-Gazette  a 
marked  success. 


HON.  J.  STANLEY  BROWNE, 

Editor-in-chief  of  the  Rockford  Morning  Star, 
was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1855,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  His 
parents  were  people  of  culture  and  refinement, 
and  were  numbered  among  the  well-to-do  citi- 
zens of  New  York  State,  where  they  lived  and 
died. 

Before  coming  to  Illinois  Mr.  Browne  was 
employed  on  the  Albany  Argus,  where  he  devel- 
oped acute  political  talent,  and  stumped  the 
state  in  the  interests  of  Tilden  for  president  in 


ROCKFORD 


171 


the  campaign  of  1876.  Later,  he  was  twice 
elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket  to  the  New 
York  legislature  from  Otsego  county.  He  also 
served  as  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
of  his  county,  and  was  secretary  for  a  period  of 
five  years  to  Lieutenant-Governor  Dorscheimer 
during  the  time  Tilden  was  governor. 

Mr.  Browne  came  to  Rockford  in  1887  and 
became  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Rockford 
Journal,  which  was  merged  into  The  Star  March 
20,  1888,  of  which  Mr.  Browne  became  man- 
aging editor,  which  position  he  has  since  held 
with  marked  ability, 


HON.    J.    STANLEY    BROWNE. 

Politically,  Mr.  Browne  has  been  a  life-long 
Democrat,  and  is  the  leader  and  teacher  of  pure 
democracy  of  the  Cleveland  school  in  Northern 
Illinois. 

Mr.  Browne  is  a  forceful  and  elegant  writer, 
and  his  diction  is  rarely  equaled.  His  eloquence 
has  brought  his  services  into  great  demand  in 
political  campaigns  and  social  functions  where 
he  is  always  at  ease. 

The  wide  circulation  of  the  Morning  Star  is 
sufficient  evidence  of  his  ability  as  an  editor, 
and  is  doubtless  the  finest  encomium  the  paper 
can  receive. 


Mr.  Browne  was  married  to  Miss  Evalyn  Tall- 
madge  of  Otsego  county,  N.  Y.,  who  is  a  lady 
of  culture  and  fine  education,  and  is  a  leader  in 
Rockford's  social  circles.  Her  ancestry  were 
among  the  true  patriots  of  the  country,  her  father 
being  a  solder  in  the  Civil  War  and  her  grand- 
father in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

The  family  residence  is  at  No.  917  North 
Church  street. 


ROSCOE  S.  CHAPMAN, 

Business  Manager  of  the  Rockford  Morning 
Star,  was  born  in  Rutland,  Illinois,  January  6, 
1868,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 

From  Rutland  he  removed  to  Lacon.  Illi- 
nois, and  came  to  Rockford  October  1 1,  1886, 
and  was  employed  by  Warren  Woodruff  in  the 
hardware  trade. 

On  January  1,  1887,  he  relinquished  this 
business,  and  became  identified  with  the  Rock- 


ROSCOE    S.    CHAPMAN. 

ford  Gazette.  His  work  on  this  paper  was  for  a 
short  time  only,  as  on  January  1,  1888,  he  went 
to  the  Rockford  Journal,  which  was  merged  into 
the  Rockford  Morning  Star,  March  20,  1888. 

Mr.  Chapman  is  one  of  the  original  stock- 
holders of  the  Rockford  Star  Printing  Co.,  and 
solicited  the  first  subscribers  on  the  daily  list. 


172 


ROCKFORD 


The  Rockford  Morning  Star  is  the  only  morn- 
ing paper  published  in  the  city,  and  ranks  with 
the  best  inland  dailies  of  this  country. 

He  was  married  in  Rockford,  June  4,  1890, 
to  Mi1  s  Mae  Bills,  of  Garden  Prairie,  111. 


JOHN  V,  R1LEY, 

Who  since  January  1,  1895,  has  been  active  in 
the  business  department  of  The  Morning  Star 
and  is  now  its  advertising  manager,  came  to 
Rockford  from  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  where 


JOHN    V.    RILEY. 

he  was  identified  with  the  sales  department  of 
several  manufacturing  concerns  during  the  years 
he  lived  there.  Prior  to  his  residence  in  the 
Wolverine  state  he  was  employed  in  two  depart- 
ment stores  in  Chicago.  It  was  in  those  en- 
virons he  acquired  the  liking  for  advertising  work 
which  eventuated  into  his  present  occupation. 

He  is  a  director  and  one  of  the  principal 
stockholders  in  the  Rockford  Star  Printing  Co., 
the  corporation  publishing  The  Morning  Star. 


He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Rockford  Public 
Library. 

Mr.  Riley  was  born  in  Henry,  Illinois.  In 
June,  1891,  in  Denver,  Colorado,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lenore  Hooker,  to  whom  was  given 
a  son,  John  Stewart  Riley,  who  will  be  five 
years  old  February  4,  1904. 


ROCKFORD  ILLUSTRATING  CO. 

The  Rockford  Illustrating  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  1893  and  is  the  successor  to  the 
Rockford  Engraving  Company,  which  was  or- 
ganized in  the  seventies. 

The  company  has  occupied  its  present  loca- 
tion during  the  last  five  years.  Its  place  of 
business  has  been  recently  rearranged  and  re- 
fitted, and  is  now  one  of  the  most  complete  in- 
stitutions of  the  kind  in  the  city. 

The  company  designs,  engraves,  and  elec- 
trotypes first  class  work  on  short  notice.  It  en- 
joys the  patronage  of  the  furniture  factories  of 
this  city  and  executes  many  foreign  orders, 

The  business  of  the  company  is  under  the 
management  of  K.  E.  Knutsson,  and  is  in  a 
highly  prosperous  condition. 


THE  THEO.  W.  CLARK  COMPANY 

Was  organized  and  incorporated,  December  2, 
1897,  and  capitalized  at  $20,000.  Its  place  of 
business  is  at  124  West  State  Street,  and  is 
equipped  with  a  complete  outfit  of  the  latest 
appliances  for  doing  the  finest  work  in  all  kinds 
of  job  printing.  High  grade  black  and  color 
printing,  engraving,  embossing  and  binding,  for 
all  purposes,  is  executed  on  short  notice  by  this 
company. 

Its  president  is  Dr.  Henry  Richings  and  its 
business  manager  and  secretary  is  Theo.  W. 
Clark. 

All  kinds  of  business  and  society  stationery 
are  kept  in  stock  and  its  patrons  are  supplied  at 
very  low  rates,  consistent  with  good  quality. 

A  large  number  of  workmen  is  employed  and 
the  business  is  constantly  growing  with  un- 
bounded success. 


INDEX  TO  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Blaisdell,  E  W.  residence 29 

Broughton  Sanitarium 76,  77,  78,  79 

Brown  Building 15 

Brown,  Horace  residence 56 

Carlton,  Ingalls  residence 23 

Country  Club 17 

Davis,  Jeremiah  residence 52 

Dunn,  Dr.  E.  C 36 

East  State  Street 21 

Emerson,  Ralph  residence 45 

Carver,  Judge  J.  C.  residence 31 

Government  Building 43 

Group  of  Rockf ord  residences 48 

Group  of  Rockf  ord  churches 64 ,  70 

Hamilton,  H.  H.  residence 32 

!  nterurban  Railway 1 30 

Johnson,  O.  W.  Com.  House 82 

Knapp,  William  residence 25 

Lake,  John  residence 16 

Memorial    Hall...  ..10 


PAGE 

Nelson,  William  residence 60 

Nelson  Hotel 14 

Rhodes.  Levi  residence 39 

Rockford  College 62 

Schmauss  Company 80 

Seventh  Street 47 

Sherratt,  John  H.  residence 50 

Shoudy,  I.  residence 58 

Shumway,  R.  H.  residence 26 

Skandia  Hardware  Co 81 

St.  James  Church 67 

Sumner,  E.  B.  residence 20 

Thomas,  P.  Byron  residence 34 

Tinker's  Swiss  Cottage 40 

Water  Works  Park 41 

Waterman,  J.  D.  residence 37 

Williams,  Mrs.  Lydia  residence 19 

Winnebago  County  Court  House 1 1 

Woodruff,  Gilbert  residence 28 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building ..13 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Acquisitions  of  1836. ..12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18 

Act  Establishing  Public  Library 44 

African  M.  E.  Church  and  Roster 73 

Ailing,  David  D 23,24 

Ailing,    Frank 23 

Allen   Gordon  S 46 

Allaben,  Dr.  J.   E 51,54 

Alexander,  John 157,  158 

American   House 59,  60 

Amiss,  Miss  Arabella 9 

Anderson,  Dr.    B.  C 51 

Anderson,  Andrew 155,  156 

Anderson,  Peter  T 1 65 

Andrews,  C.  N 26 

Andrews,  Charles 1 13,  114 

Andrus,  Hon.  Henry 57,  101,  102 

Andrus,  Dr.  S.  C 51 

Artesian  Wells 42 

Ashton,    Andrew 24 

Austin,  Dr.  S.  A 51,  52,  53 

Austin,  W.  W 169 

Bailey,  Hon.  Rufus  C 85,  86 

Baker,  Hon.  Edward  H 85,  86 

Baker,  IraW 38 

Baley,  L.  H 117 

Baldwin,  George  W 165 

Banks,  A.  W 150,  151 

Barbour,  Prof.  0.  F 45,  55 

Bargren,  A.  E 49,  50 

Barker,  Ira 49 

Barnes,  William  H 124 

Barningham,  D.  W 57 

Barnum ,    Harris 40 

Barnum ,   Daniel 40 

Barnum ,  Ezra 12 

Barnum,  Anson 12,  24,  25 

Barter,  Miss  Alma  M 53 

Bartlett,  Mrs.  Edgar  E 38 


PAGE 

Bartlett,  Edgar  E 170 

Bartlett,  M.  A 46 

Baylies,  R.  N 129,  130 

Beale,  Joseph 126,  127 

Bean,   Mrs    Clarence 10 

Beattie,  John 23,  61 

Beattie,  Edward  W 23 

Beattie,  George  D 23 

Beattie,  Mary  1 23 

Beattie,  Anna 23 

Bedwell  &  Herrick 38 

Beers,  Daniel 12 

Biographical 83 

Black,  Mrs.  Mary  Irby 10 

Blackmer,  Orlander  C 55 

Blaisdell,  Elijah  Whittier 119,  120,  121 

Blake  School 55 

Blake, Thatcher 9,  12,  26,  35 

Blinn,    Jesse 26 

Blodgett,  J.  H 55 

Bolvin,  Nicholas  &  Co 19 

Bond,  Nathan 12 

Boswell,  James 12,  24 

Bowman,  John  A 57 

Bradford,  Miss  Frances 54 

Bradley,  F.  M 43 

Bradley  &  Carpenter 46,  58 

Brazee,  Mrs.  Caroline  A 38 

Brearley,  A.  C 125,  126 

Brett,  Mrs.  Carrie  S 38 

Briggs,  Spafford  &  Penfield 38 

Brinckerhoff,  George  W 25 

Broadie,  James 12 

Bronson,  Mayor  S.  G 44 

Brooks,  Major  General 36 

Brown,  Thomas  C 21 

Brown,  Mrs.  William 41 

Brown,  Judge  William 41,  52,  53 

Brown,  Miss  Eunice...  ...54 


INDEX 


nr  /  IT  v 

175 


PAGE 

Brown  School 55 

Brown,  Andrew 59 

Brown,  Horace 94,  95 

Brown,  Hon.  E.  W 96,97 

Browne,  Hon.  J.  Stanley 170,  171 

Brown's  H ouse 59 

Broughton,  Russell  M.  D...76,  77,  78,  79,  101 

Bryhn,  R.  J 131 

Buildings  in  la38 24 

Bundy  &  Goodhue 24 

Burbank.  Frank 51 

Burnap,  Francis 36 

Burnap,  Rev.  Jacob 36 

Burson,  William  Worth 108,  109 

Butterworth,  Thomas 52 

Butterworth,  Chester 53 

Calkins,  Dr.  F.  W 51 

Campbell,  Abel 12 

Carey,   Miss 1  1 

Carey,  Phineas 12 

Carleton,  Ingalls 90 

Carlson,  David 161 

Carnegie,  Andrew 44,  45.  46 

Carpenter,  H.  W 52 

Carr,  G.  V 49 

Carson,  James  H 58,  133  134 

Carty,  Ed.  F 155 

Carter,  V 12 

Carrico,  T.  W 23 

Catlin.  Dr.  E.  P 51.  141 

Catlin,  Dr.  A.  M 51 

Catlin,  Dr.  S.  R 51 

Caton,  John 12 

Cavanaugh,  Charles 46,  50 

Cavanaugh,  J  ohn 50 

Central  Christian  Church  and  Rosier 73 

Chalm ers,  J ames 46 

Chandler,  D.  C 50 

Chapel  Hall 62 

Chapin,  John  P 24 

Chapman,  Roscoe  S 171,  172 

Chamberlain,  Prof 42 

Charles,  Elijah 18 

Chicago  &  Iowa  Railroad 61 

Chick  House 38,  59 

Chick,  Thomas 1 48,  1 49 

Christening  and  Incorporation  01  Village. ...24,  25 
Churchill,  P.  P.. .  ..12 


PAGE 

Church,  Selden  M 12,  24,43 

Church ,  Samuel  1 46 

Church  School 55 

City  Hotel 60 

Clark,  James 24 

Clark,  Dr.  D.  S 44,  51.  53 

Clark,  Dr.  L.  A 51 

Clark,  Dr.  E.  J 51 

Clark,  Theo.  W.  Co 172 

Clarke,  William 157 

Coleman,  John  S 38 

Collier.  Alex 1 34 

Collis,  George 113 

ComingsTDr.  A.  F 51 

Commercial  House 60 

Compton,  H 50 

Cook  &  Brother 22 

Cook,  W.  H 46.  59,  153,  154 

Coonradt,  P.  A 49 

Corey,   Lova 12 

Corey,  Alonson 12 

Corey,  Jonathan 12 

Corey,  Samuel 24 

Court  Street  M.  E.  Church  and  Roster 66 

Cosper,  Elias 43,  44 

Countryman,  Alfred 49 

Coy,  Dr.  R.  E 51 

Craig,  James 18 

Crawford  .Newton 26 

Crawford,  Samuel  P 41,  47,49,  51 

Crockett,  Dr.  W.  W 51 

Cross,   Robert  J 18 

Grotty,  William 53,  123,  124 

Culhane.  Dr.  T.  H 51 

Cunningham,  Isaac  Newton 16,  38 

Cunningham ,  Samuel 38 

Cunningham ,  William 38 

Cunningham,  Benjamin  FranMin 38 

Dame ,  J  ames 49 

Damon,  Sumner 26 

Daniels,  F.  A 50 

Dankey,  Mrs.  K  W 23 

Danley,  Mrs.  Almeda  M 22 

Davis,  Jeremiah 52,  116,  117 

Dennis,  W.  P 26,  49 

Dickerman,  Wneelcr  &  Co 22 

Dickerman,  W.  A 26 

Dimond,  Jesse 137,  138 


V 


176 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Dobson,  William 112,  113 

Doolittle,  P.  S 24 

Doty,  Simon  P 18 

Dunbar,  William  E 12,  18,24 

Dunlap,  D.  C 63 

Dunn,  Dr.  E.  C 121,  122 

Dwyer,  Dennis 51 

Eagle  Hotel 59 

Eakin,   Dr.  A.  C 51 

Early,  A.  D 56,57 

Edgel,  Stephen 24 

Ellis,  Edward  F.  W 46 

Ellis  School 55 

Ellis,  T.   M 130,  131 

Ellison,  J.  A 50 

Emerson,  Adaline  E 52,  53 

Emerson,  Ralph  Jr 53 

Emerson,  Ralph 83,  84 

Enoch,  Hiram  R  16 

Episcopal  Church  and   Roster 63,  64 

Epworth  Church  and  Roster 66,67 

Erickson,  Olof 50 

Europea  n  H  otel 61 

Evans,  Mr 9 

Everett,  E.  E 60 

Ferge,  H 59 

Ferguson,  Duncan 26,  36,  40,  63 

Fernald,  E.  M 55 

Finley,  Rufus  W 152 

Fisher,  H  enry 22 

Fisher,  John 49 

First  Settlement  of   Kockford 9,  10 

First  Settler  on  East  Side 1 1 

First  Public  Religious  Service 12 

First  Cong.  Church  and  Roster. ..12,  23,64,  65 

First  Term  of  Court 21 

First  City  School  Ordinance 54 

First  Baptist  Church  and  Roster 55,  65,  66 

First  Presbyterian  Church  and  Roster... 68,  69 

First  M.  E.  Church  and  Roster 70,  71 

First  Swedish  Luth.  Church  and  Roster..73,  74 

Fitch,  Dr.  W.  H 51,  53,  142,  143 

Flaherty,  Rev.  James  J 122 

Floberg,  August  P Ill,  112 

Forbes,  A.   D 24,  53 

Ford,  Calvin 46 

Ford,  Judge  Thomas  H 18 


PAGE 

Forest  City  Insurance  Co 40 

Forest  City  National  Bank 61 

Forest  City  House 61 

Foot,  Dr.   Lucius  F 51 

Fox,  Charles  J 12 

Franciscan  Sisters 53 

Freeman,  A.  W 55 

Freeman ,  H  enry 55 

Freeman  School 55 

Fringer,  Dr.  W.  R 51 

Frost,  Howard  D 46 

Frost,  Judge  Arthur  H 51,57,  85 

Frost,  Dr.  J.  H 51 

Gamewell  Telegraph  Alarm 50 

Garner,  Squire 12 

Garner,  Jefferson 12 

Garrison  School 55 

Carver,  Judge  John  C 91 

Gaylor,  Mr 12 

George,  Miss  Margaret 12 

George,  Sampson 14 

Gillett,  Dr.  P.  F 51 

Gilman,  William  H 24 

Glenn,  Lizzie  C 52 

Glenny,  Fred 50 

Goddard,  Dr.  C.  W 51 

Godfrey,  Mrs.  Charles  H 38 

Golden,  M.   H 50 

Goodrich,  Dr.   David 22,  24,  25 

Goodwin,  Dr.  S.  E 51 

Grace  M.  E.  Church  and  Roster 75 

Granger,  S.  A 46 

Grans,  John 51 

Gray,  J.  F 42 

Green,  Dr.  Albert  S 51,  143,  144 

Gregory,  L.  B 54 

Gregory,  Mrs.  E.  S 38 

Gregory,  Samuel 12 

Gregory,  Eliphalet  12,  18 

Griffin,  Thomas  W 47 

Griggs,  Joseph.  P 18 

Groneman,  J.  H 131 

Growth  of  City  in  1835 12 

Growth  of  City 35 

Haight,  Daniel  Shaw 11,  18,  19,  20,  24,  25, 

35,  59. 
Haight,  Mrs.  Mary 11 


INDEX 


177 


PAGE 

Haines,  Dr.  G.  W 51 

Haines,  Hon.  Frederick 100 

Hall,  Charles 12 

Hall,  Eli 24 

Hall,  John 38 

Hall  School 55 

Halstead,  Ambrose 49 

Hamilton,  H.  H 150 

Hangey,  Dr.  J.  E 51 

Haskell,  Dr.  George 24,  59 

Haskell,  George  S 55 

Haskell  School 55 

H  askins,  Lewis 12 

H  ayes ,  J  oseph 24 

Helm,  Dr.  W.  B 51,  143 

Helm,  Dr.  Clinton 51,  140,  141 

Henderson,  Dr.  G.  S 51 

Henry,  C.   F 125 

Herrick,  E.  L 38 

Herrick,  Elizabeth  L 38 

Herrick,  Charles  E 38 

Hess,  L.M 118,  119 

High  School 55 

Hill,  Daniel 40 

Hill,  Dr.  F.  K 52 

Hilton,  Howard  0 170 

Holland,  John  A 37 

Holland  House 60 

Hollenbeck,  William 12 

Holm,  Gust 160 

Holmes,  Rev.  Mead 22 

Holmes,  William 47 

Hopkins,  Theodore  F 1 18 

Hoppe,  Max 167,  168 

Horsman,  Charles  1 14,  26 

Hotel  Nelson 60,  61 

Hough,  James  F 46,  47 

Howard,  Dr.  G.  A 51 

Howes,  Phineas 22 

Hubbel,  Miss  Jennie 46 

Huffman  House 60 

Hulin,  William 26,  40 

Hutchins,  Mayor  Amasa 46,49,  109,  110 

Hutchins,  Fred  H 128 

Huntley,  Dr.  E.  N 51 

Incorporation  as  a  City 25 

Jackson,  John  D 56 

Jackson,  Mayor  Charles  E 91.  92 


.1  I  /  I  / 

PAGE 

Jarvis  Inn 61 

Jellerson,  Charles  S 46 

Johnson,  O.  W : 82 

Johnson ,  Abner 159 

Johnson,  Dr.  Jalba : 51 

Jolly,  Joseph 12 

Jones,  S.  W 55 

Jones,  C.  C 55 

Jorden,  Dr,  F.  A 51 

Joslin,  Luke 12 

Julian,  S.  T 48 

Keig,  W.   H 151,  152 

Keith,  Adam 12 

Keith,  Lewis 24 

Keith's  Creek 12 

Keeler,  E.  H 56.  57,  115,  1  16 

Kemble.  John  C 22,  24,  25 

Kent,  Germanicus 9,   10,  12,  18,24,  35 

Kent,  Rev.  Aratus 9,  12,61 

Kent  School 10,  55 

Kern,  O.  J 134,  135 

Keyt,  W.   R 152,  153 

Keyt,  W.  A 158 

Kilburn,  Milton 12 

Kilburn,  Benjamin 23,  24 

Kimball,  Dr.  F.  H 51.,  52,  53 

Kinder,  Dr.  R.  G.  W 51 

Kirk,  Elisha  A 24 

Kishwaukee  School 55 

Knapp,  James  G 44 

Knapp,  William 105 

Lake,  Thomas 12   24 

Lake,  John 22,  93,  94 

Lake,  Lewis  F 132 

Lakin,  John  T 46,  47 

Lane,  Sanford  &  Co 22 

Lane,  Dr.  R.  P 51,  52,  53 

Langdon,  J.  E 49 

Latham,  C   H 57 

Lathrop,  Mrs.  William 22 

Lathrop,  William 26,  52,  53,  83 

Lawler,  Col.  T.  G 55,  57 

Leach,  Shepherd 38 

Leland,  Dr.  S.  C 51 

Lichty,  Dr.   Daniel 51 

Lincoln  School 55 

Linden  Hall...  ...62 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Lines,  Charles  C 131 

Little,  Samuel 24,  25 

Little,  M.  B 50 

Location  of  County  Seat 18,  19,  20,  21 

Lofgren,  Dr.  Emil 51 

Love,  M.  A 57 

Lovejoy,  A.  J 57,  58 

Lyddon,  B.  R 162 

Lyon,  Isaiah 25,  26,  59 

Lyon,  J.  G 54 

Lyon,  George  G 55 

McAssey,   F.  W 131 

McCarty,  C.  J 131 

McDowell,  Dr.  W.  A 147,  148 

McEnnis,  Dr.  R.  W 51 

McGrahan,   J.  T 50 

McKenney,  William 26 

McLee,  John 163,  164 

McPherson,  Prof 55 

Mabie,  Rev.  HenryC 44 

Mackenzie,  Roderick 159,  160 

Main,  Edwin 63 

Makintosh,  Dr.  M.  Alexander 51 

Manufacturers'  Bank 39 

Marcy,  Ex.  Governor 22 

Markley,  Dr.  P.  L 51,  54 

Markley,  Dr.  A.  J 54 

Marsh,  Jason 26,  36,  38,  55 

Marsh  School 55 

Marsh,  Frank  M 135,  136 

Marshall,  W.  H 138 

Martin,  Alfred 164,  165 

Martin,  Thomas  M 44 

Martyn,  James  B 12 

May,  William  L 18 

Maynard,  Hiram  R 26 

Masonic  Temple 60 

Mead,  D.  W 42,  63 

Melville,  F.  L 137 

Memorial  Hall 46 

Middle  Hall 62 

Midway 24 

Miller,  John 23 

Miller,  Hon.  Horace 40 

Miller,  William  M 41 

Miller,  Dr.  T.  N 51,  144 

Miller,  A.  S 55 

Miller,  Jacob  B...  ...59 


PAGE 

Miller,  Thomas 59 

Miller,  Charles  L 169 

Milliken,  K.  H 26 

Mitchell,  James 21,  25 

Montague ,  Richard 12 

Montague  School 55 

Morgan,  Abiram 14,  24 

Moore,  G.  S 59 

Morrill,  Israel 12 

Morrison,  L.  L 51,98 

Mosher,  J eremiah 49 

Moulthrop,  Dr.  Levi 12 

Moyer,  Dr.  C.  W 51 

Munthe,  Thour 52 

Nash,  John  A 57 

National  Hotel 61 

Neeley,  William  N 58 

Nelson  H ouse 24 

Nelson  School 55 

Nelson,  Col.  William 99 

Nevius  Post,  G.  A.  R 56,  57 

Newberg,  Frank  P 163 

Noble,  Mr 12 

Norton,  Mr 12 

Norton,  Marcus  A 132,  133 

Norton,  W.  T 161,  162 

Nylander,  Aug 57,  58 

Organization  of  the  County 17 

Olson,  Nels 154,  155 

Palm,  J.  A 158,  159 

Peake,  Laomi,  Sr., 39 

Pearson,  Frank  E 154 

Peck,  Ebinezer 24 

Penfield,  William 24 

Penfield,  David  S 38 

Perry,  Seeley 12,  22,  43 

Peterson,  P.  A 168,  169 

Petit,  S.  J 150 

Phelps,  John 18,  24 

Posson,  Joseph 16 

Posson,  Jacob 24 

Potter,  Herman  B 12 

Potter,  Eleazer  Hubble 22,  26 

Potter,  Joel  B 38 

Price,  Frances  1 52 

Price,  Henry  W 88,  89 

Reber,  Thomas  D 114,  115 

Reception  in  Library  Rooms 44 


INDEX 


179 


PAGE 

Reck,  Samuel  H 104,  105 

Reed,  Charles 19 

Regan,  Hon.  Frank  S 140 

Reid,  James  M  128 

Reorganization  of  City  Government 27 

Rew,  Robert 102,  103 

Rhodes,  Levi 41,   116 

Richings,  Dr.  Charles  Henry 14,  51 

Richings,  Dr.  Henry. ..16,  40,  51,  53,  141,  142 

Riley,  John  V 172 

River  Park 46 

Robertson,  Thomas  D 37,  38,  43 

Rockf ord  Journal 16 

Rockford  House 24,  25,  59 

Rockford  College 38,  61,  62 

Rockford  Wire  Works 39 

Rockford  Water  Works 41,  42 

Rockford  Public  Library 42,  43,  44,  45,  46 

Rockford  Fire  Department 46,  47,  48,  49 

Rockford  City  Hospital 52 

Rockford  Schools 54,  55 

Rockford  Hotels 59,  60,  61 

Rockford  Churches 63-75 

Rockford  &  Interurban  Railway 129,  130 

Rockford  Illustrating  Company 172 

Rockford  Police  Department 49,  50,  51 

Rock  River  House 59 

Roosevelt,  President  Theodore 59 

Roster  of  City  Officials 27-35 

Ryan,  E.  J 166 

Sabin,  Charles 97,98 

Sager,  Dr.  R 51,  146 

Sanford,  G.  A 21,  22,  26 

Savage,  John  T 112 

Schmauss  Company 80 

Schmauss  Leonard 53,  127,  128 

Scovill,  H.  C 103,  104 

Second  Cong.  Church  and  Roster 72 

Settlers  of  1837 21,  22,  23,  24 

Shaw,  W.  J 16,  161 

Sherratt,  Capt.  John  H 84,  85 

Shoudy,  1 136,  137 

Shumway,  David  S 16 

Shumway,  Roland  H.,  Sr 16,  107 

Sill,  Miss  Anna  P 61.  62 

Skandia  Hardware  Company 81 

Soldiers  and  Sailors  Memorial  Hall 55-59 

Spafford,  Amos  Catlin 36,  38 

Spafford,  Charles  H 38 

Spafford,  George  H 38 

Special  City  Charter 27 

Sponberg,  P.  A 168 

St.  James  Church  and  Roster 73 

St.  Mary's  Church  and  Roster 74,  75 

St.  Anthony  Hospital 53 

Stage  H  ouse 59 

Starke  Dr.  C.  V...  ...51,  145,  146 


PAGE 

State  Street  Baptist  Church  and  Roster 68 

Sterling,  F.  E 57,  105,  106,  107 

Streets  of  Rockford 62 

Swanson,  C.  J 162,  163 

Swedish  Methodist  Church  and  Roster 68 

Sumner,  Hon.  E.  B 87,  88 

Talcott,  W.  A 52,  53 

Talcott,  Wait 53 

The  Inn 59 

Thomas,  P.  Byron 126 

Thompson,  Norman  F 89.  90 

Tibbetts,  Dr.  L 51,  146,  147 

Ticknor,  Herbert  D 156 

Tinker,  Hon.  Robert  H 41,  44,  98 

Trinity  Eng.  Lutheran  Church  and  Roster 74 

Turner  School 55 

Union  H  ouse 59 

Victoria  House 61 

Walker,  P.  R 107,  108 

Walker,].  A 122,  123 

Walker,  Dr.  C.  A 145 

Walkup,  Liberty 139 

Walsh,  James  P 167 

Warfield,  J.  E 170 

Washington  House 24,  59 

Waterman,  John  Dexter 95 

Waverly  House 59 

Webb,  A.  W 49 

Welch,  P.  W 166,  167 

Westminster  Pres.  Church  and  Roster... 69,  70 

Wheeler,   Solomon 55 

White,  Frank  C 149,  150 

Whitehead,  J.  B 58,  110,  111 

Whitehead,  Mrs.  J.  B 38 

White's  Hotel 60 

Widell,  Swan  0 153 

Wight  School 55 

Wiley,  George  L 114 

Williams,  H.  W 138,  139 

Williams,  Dr.  Ray  Daniel 147 

Winchester,  Thomas 156,  157 

Winn,  Dr.  George  L 51,  144,  145 

Winnebago  House 24,  59,  60 

Winnebago  County  Medical  Society 51,  52 

Winnebago  County  Agricultural  Society 63 

Winnebago  Street  Church  and  Roster 71,  72 

Wisner,  J.  F 166 

Woodruff,  Gilbert 22,  86,  87 

Woodruff,  William  F 99,  100 

Woolsey,  C.   Harry 148 

Works,  Hon.  Charles  A 92,  93 

Worthington,  William 39 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building 38,  43,  59 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


